[Pibe-division] Portland State University teacher program is suspended.

[Carrie Gilmer]

Greetings All,
I am writing to ask that all write to the addressees below to voice your
concern about the ramifications of having overworked, under-trained, or not
available (because there are no teachers or one to a county for example)
teachers for our children. If you have a story of low service hours, or
unqualified paras doing the work, because the district claimed they could
not get a teacher (or the teacher claimed they had no time) for example that
would be great. Make it personal. Teachers: if you are struggling to serve
too large a caseload, your personal stories would be great too.
 Thank you,
 
Carrie Gilmer, President
National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
A Division of the National Federation of the Blind
NFB National Center: 410-659-9314
Home Phone: 763-784-8590
carrie.gilmer at gmail.com
www.nfb.org/nopbc

-----Original Message-----



From: Jim Bickford [mailto:bickford at pdx.edu]
Sent: Monday, April 06, 2009 3:39 PM
To: TOVI: Administrative Question
Subject: [tovi] Your Support is urgently needed - Portland State University
program is suspended.
Importance: High

 Friends, Colleagues, Students, Parents, and all Stakeholders:

 
On March 30, 2009 the provost at Portland State University made a decision
to suspend operations of the program to prepare teachers of students who are
blind or visually impaired due to the current economic and budgetary
shortfalls.  Many of you are aware that Portland State is the only teacher
preparation program in the Pacific Northwest and just completed its 45th
year preparing teachers for blind children. This decision came as quite a
shock to all of us.  The provost has proposed reviewing the program in the
next 6-9 months before making a final determination about continuance.
However, for the 2009-2010 school year we will admit no new students.



I would like to encourage each one of you to make your concerns known to the
provost and our dean and explain the need for our program to continue.  If
you have had specific personal relationships with our program, please do be
personal - but the emphasis must be on the needs of the students who will
now go unserved.  Also, if you have any specific suggestions for
collaborative partnerships, we would love to hear them.

 

I would also encourage you to share this e-mail with anyone that you feel
may be affected by our potential permanent closure.

 

Please address your concerns to:

Dr. Roy Koch, Provost                     kochr at pdx.edu 

Portland State University

PO Box 751

Portland, Oregon  97207

 

and 

 

Dr. Randy Hitz, Dean                      hitz at pdx.edu 

Graduate School of Education

Portland State University

PO Box 751

Portland, Oregon   97207

 

With copies to our department chair

 

Dr. Leslie Munson              munsonl at pdx.edu 

 

Thank you for your concern.

 

James O. "Blue" Bickford, Ed.D.

Director:  Project BRAILLE 

Associate Professor

Program for Visually Impaired Learners

 

Telephone:  503-725-5495

FAX:           503-725-5599

 

Visit our distance learning information center at:

http://www.pdx.edu/sped/vil.html <http://www.pdx.edu/sped-coun/vil.html>


 

Portland State University

Department of Special Education

PO Box 751

Portland, Oregon  97207