Franklin, Mass., May 4, 2010 – Marking one of the most significant expansions in Dean College’s 145-year history, the Franklin-based institution announced it has received approval from the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education to offer three new baccalaureate degrees: A Bachelor of Science in Business; a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Studies; and a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre.

 

As a result of today’s announcement, Dean has a curriculum offering with 20 degree programs, including five bachelor and 15 associate degrees. The new degree programs will be offered to students enrolled in the semester beginning in fall 2010, the same semester that Dean will open its new $12.6 million performing arts and dining center.

 

“These new baccalaureate programs will allow us to continue to do what we do best – prepare our students for the world,” said Paula M. Rooney, Ed.D., President of Dean College. “Although 98 percent of Dean associate degree graduates are accepted to some of the nation’s leading colleges and universities, many students want to stay at Dean and expanding the number of baccalaureate offerings will give them that opportunity.”

 

College officials expect that the additional degree offerings will enable a continued trend towards increased enrollment. At present, Dean has 1,000 full-time students and 500 part-time students enrolled on its 100-acre campus.

 

“Increasing enrollment is always a goal, but we want to do so only at a rate that is consistent with our ability to provide the personalized attention and quality of teaching that has come to distinguish us. Being able to offer these three new baccalaureatedegree programs is one of the best ways for me personally to celebrate my 15-year anniversary as president of Dean College,” said Dr. Rooney.

 

Specifically, the addition of the three new baccalaureate degree programs will increase the number of choices available to associate degree candidates currently enrolled in Dean’s Theatre, Liberal Studies and Business programs, all of which previously offered only associate degrees.

 

The new degree programs include:

 

 

 

“The new programs in business, theatre and liberal arts and studies are part of a natural progression in our growth while responding to requests from current and prospective students for baccalaureate degrees in these disciplines.  These programs will provide a more comprehensive learning experience, are appealing to our full-time and part-time students, and to an ever-growing number of applicants,” said Dr. Rooney.

 

Both current Dean Students and prospective students may apply for admission to the fall 2010 programs, with admission on a rolling basis.

 

The new baccalaureate degree programs continue a decade-long expansion by Dean College into four-year education. Dean College offered the first four-year degree in its history in 2000, when the baccalaureate degree program in Dance was added to the curriculum. A baccalaureatedegree program in Arts & Entertainment Management was added in 2007.

 

With this announcement, the degrees offered by Dean will include:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Founded in 1865 by Tufts University Universalist Church as a feeder academy, Dean College is located in Franklin Massachusetts, 45 minutes from both Boston, Massachusetts and Providence, Rhode Island. Currently, 1,000 full-time students and 500 part-time students are enrolled at Dean, the majority of whom reside on Dean’s 100-acre campus. Dean provides some form of financial assistance to nearly all students. Approximately 98 percent of Dean students who graduate with an associate degree are accepted for transfer to a four-year college.

 

Dean is becoming a destination of choice for students around the globe. In the current school year, the profile of the incoming class included students from 23 U.S. states and 20 countries.

Dean is one of the few colleges in the nation to offer instruction in Modern, Tap, Jazz and seven levels of Ballet, and is the only college in the Northeast to offer both A.A. and B.A. degrees in Dance.

 

 

Patricia Samson, Public Relations, Dean College

508-541-1668 or 508-615-0839 (cell)