Materials linked from the May 19, 2011 Graduate Council agenda (item #3).
From: "McComb, Brenda" <[email protected]>
Date: May 3, 2011 5:23:07 PM PDT
To: "Harvey, Marie" <[email protected]>
Cc: "Khanna, Sunil" <[email protected]>, "Filtz, Theresa" <[email protected]>,
"Garagnani, Rosemary" <[email protected]>
Subject: Dr. German Escobar's application for admission into OSU's MPH Program
Dear Marie,
I have discussed German’s case with Sunil, Rosemary, Becky Warner, and Theresa Filtz. This seems a
precedent setting decision, so Theresa and I agreed that we would like to receive Grad Council
guidance before I make a decision on German’s admission. Sunil summarizes the situation below.
Apparently there are strong feelings about situations like this on the Graduate Council.
Could you please work with Theresa to schedule a time to present the situation and see if the Council
wishes to change policy? Thanks so much.
Brenda
Dear Brenda,
At our last meeting, we discussed briefly about Dr. German Escobar’s application for admission into
OSU’s MPH Program. Just to provide a synopsis of this case –
Dr. Escobar’s application was deemed ineligible because his medical degree from Colombia is not
a Título de Licenciatura , Título de Ingenier, or Título Profesional, Therefore, it was concluded that
Dr. Escobar does not hold a degree equivalent to a US bachelors degree and, therefore, is not eligible
for application to the graduate program.
I believe there is a case to be made that Dr. Escobar’s medical degree can be seen as equivalent to a
bachelor’s degree in the Colombian education system. In Colombia (see first scanned attachment),
there are two ways that an individual can complete an equivalent to an undergraduate education and
prepare himself/herself for graduate education. To make this somewhat comprehensible, please see
below a quote from the AACRAO Edge database on the overview of the Colombian educational
system:
Admission to universities requires a bachillerato and an entrance exam…There are 75 public and
private…universities…and 90…university institutions. Coursework at this level is measured in
unidades de labor academica/ULA (academic work units). The first level of studies (licenciatura) is
4-5 years long and students are awarded a Titulo de Licenciado (Title of Licentiate) after earning at
least 3200 ULAs. The Titulo Profesional (Professional Title) is awarded after the minimum
coursework and defense of a thesis. Law, engineering, medicine and dentistry programs are 5
years. Graduate programs require a Titulo de Licenciado or a Titulo Profesional and an entrance
examination for admission.
Once students complete their graduate education, they receive a Titulo de Especialista. On the
educational ladder attached, you will see that both the four year Titulo de Licenciado and the Titulo
Professional lead to the Titulo Especialista. Please note also that under the Titulo Profesional there
are several professional degrees listed. One of those degrees, Titulo de Ingeniero, is listed on the
Graduate School website as meeting admissions requirements for graduate study at OSU. It’s unclear
here why one professional degree would be acceptable when another isn’t.
http://oregonstate.edu/dept/grad_school/country_reqs.php
(You will need to choose Colombia from the drop down list to view requirements)
In addition, to the educational structure discussed here, the minimum GPA required for graduate
applicants is a 3.5 out of 5.0. Dr. Escobar received a cumulative GPA of 4.22 which, according to
AACRAO Edge, is equivalent to an “A” average. Much of the coursework taken also appears to be
public health-oriented.
I would, therefore, request that the Graduate School reconsider its assessment of Dr. Escobar’s
eligibility. I am also requesting Dr. Marie Harvey (Chair, Public Health) to send you her
comments/recommendation on Dr. Escobar’s application.
Please let me know if you have any questions or need further information.
Sincerely,
Sunil
********************
Sunil Khanna
Associate Provost for International Programs
414 Snell Hall
Oregon State University
541-737-6433
Brenda McComb, Dean
The Graduate School
Rm 300 Kerr Admin Bldg
Oregon State University
Corvallis, Oregon, 97330 USA
[email protected]
Phone: 541-737-4881 , Fax: 541-737-3313
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