Dianne Sanan-Garay, CSC Docket No. 2020-2733

BackgroundDianne Sanan-Garay appeals her rank and score for the promotional examination for Senior Employment Specialist (PC1452A), Essex County. The appellant received an unassembled examination (UE) score and final average of 94.100 and ranked second on the resultant eligible list.

The subject examination had a closing date of October 21, 2019, and was open to employees in the competitive division who had an aggregate of one year of continuous permanent service as of the closing date, and who were currently serving in the titles Employment Specialist or Employment Specialist Bilingual in Spanish and English. Thirteen candidates appear on the employment roster.

This examination was processed as an unassembled examination, i.e., candidates were ranked on the eligible list based on an evaluation of their education and experience as listed on their applications. The unassembled examination standard on which the scoring process for this examination awarded a base score of 70.000 for all eligible applicants. Additional credit was awarded for up to ten years of experience in assessing education and training needs and providing referrals for work experience and training services or in manpower development and training, job placement, education or vocational counseling, or a combination thereof. A maximum of eight points of additional credit was awarded for a Bachelor’s degree, and two points of additional credit was given for a Master’s degree in Psychology, Education, Social Work, Counseling or related fields. It is noted that no credit was given for experience gained more than ten years prior to the examination closing date, in this case, November 2009.

The appellant received a UE score of 90.000 for ten years of experience, and eight points for her Bachelor’s degree. She received the maximum seniority score as well. Her Master’s degree in Criminal Justice is not related to Psychology, Education, Social Work, or Counseling, and therefore, she did not receive credit for a Master’s degree in that field.

Appellant's argumentOn appeal, the appellant states she should have a higher rank and score as she possesses more experience, education and seniority than the first ranking candidate. The appellant also argues that her Master’s degree in Criminal Justice is related to Psychology, Education, Social Work, or Counseling, as it is a Social Science and a subfield of Sociology. She provides the following description of the Criminal Justice program as explained by Tennessee State University, “The Criminal Justice curriculum contains a broad range of courses including Police Science, Social Science, Psychology, Sociology, and Law designed to equip students for work in the field of criminal justice.” From Rutgers University, the appellant indicates that faculty are drawn from a wide range of disciplines including sociology, and that recent graduates couple this major with another major or minor in Psychology or other fields. From William Paterson University, the appellant points out that sociology credits are required for the major, and psychology credits are electives.

CONCLUSION

RuleN.J.A.C. 4A:4-2.1(f) provides that an application may only be amended prior to the announced closing date for filing applications.

AnalysisInitially, the application of the first ranking candidate was reviewed as part of this appeal and it was correctly scored. Next, the crux of this appeal is that the appellant wants credit for her Master’s degree in Criminal Justice, which she argues is related to Psychology, Education, Social Work, or Counseling. It is noted that this list does not include Sociology and therefore any reference to Criminal Justice as related to Sociology is not germane. Additionally, the Civil Service Commission utilizes the U.S. Department of Education’s current Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) as reference authority to determine if degrees and/or coursework fall within a specific academic discipline. Each discipline is given a separate CIP code. In this case, Criminal Justice is in a different CIP code than Psychology, Education, Social Work, or Counseling (which has the same code as Psychology or Education). It is clear too, that this degree is not related to the experience description of assessing education and training needs and providing referrals for work experience and training services or in manpower development and training, job placement, education or vocational counseling. Rather, this discipline focuses on the principles and procedures for providing homeland security, police, or other safety services and managing penal institutions. The appellant appropriately did not receive credit for a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice, as it is not related to Psychology, Education, Social Work, or Counseling.

A thorough review of the record indicates that the decision of the Division of Agency Services is amply supported by the record, and appellant provides no basis to disturb that decision. Appellant has failed to meet her burden of proof in this matter.

ORDER

Therefore, it is ordered that this appeal be denied.

ClosingThis is the final administrative determination in this matter. Any further review should be pursued in a judicial forum.