AGENCY RECOMMENDATION SUMMARY
AGENCY RECOMMENDATION SUMMARY:
Doing the Math:
Shaping state research university
enrollment to fill the demand for well-prepared college graduates in the
workforce.
The first goal of
Washington State University’s strategic plan is to offer the best undergraduate
experience in a research university. WSU graduates are talented and diverse and
leave the university well-prepared to contribute to the State’s economy and
culture. However, the state research institutions need to produce more of these
educated citizens to be prepared to meet the future demands of the state
economy.
Washington’s employment demand numbers
dictate that the research universities must produce many more graduates,
especially engineers, scientists and mathematicians. But the numbers also
indicate many students aren’t prepared and motivated to do the math and science
required of many high-demand fields.
This comprehensive biennial budget
package pairs a request for high-demand and general enrollment increases with a
request for targeted programs and capacity for middle school, high school and
college students. As a result of this comprehensive approach, the proposal will
ensure well-prepared state research university graduates to fill the demands of
the state’s knowledge-based economy.
|
|
2007-08 |
|
2008-09 |
|
2007-09 |
|
By Fund |
Staff FTE |
Dollars |
|
Staff FTE |
Dollars |
|
Biennium |
|
General Fund State |
49.9
|
4,689,000
|
|
94.5
|
8,380,000
|
|
13,069,000
|
|
Tuition |
14.8
|
1,236,000
|
|
34.6
|
2,902,000
|
|
4,138,000
|
|
Total |
64.7
|
$5,925,000
|
|
129.1
|
$11,282,000
|
|
$17,207,000
|
PACKAGE DESCRIPTION:
Washington State University requests $~13
million for:
·
Pipeline Program ($3
million) to work with educational service districts, K-12 schools and districts,
community colleges, industry and professional organizations to produce more
students well-prepared in science and mathematics that will seriously and
successfully pursue careers as engineers, scientists, mathematicians, and health
science professionals.
·
New student enrollments in
high-demand engineering, mathematics, and science disciplines ($4 million),
providing much needed capacity to produce more graduates in the engineering and
science disciplines. 70 additional student FTE in fiscal year 2008 and 95
student FTE in 2009.
·
An innovative proposal to
augment funding for 100 current student FTEs to ensure sufficient support for
the growing numbers of students who choose high demand fields of study ($1
million.). This is a proposal that makes room for more existing undergraduate
students to move into high-demand science and engineering majors where
enrollment has been restricted because of cost.
·
Increase state and regional
economic capacity and access by funding 515 additional general student FTE
enrollments across the Tri-Cities,
Vancouver, and Pullman-Spokane campuses
($5 million).
NARRATIVE
JUSTIFICATION AND IMPACT STATEMENT:
Background:
In the State of Washington, the
Employment Security Department estimates that 48 percent of expected job
openings in the five-year period beginning in 2007 will require degrees in
science, engineering, mathematics and health based fields, of study. The
Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts that employment in science and
engineering will increase about 70 percent faster than the overall growth rate
for all occupations.
Washington’s
universities are not producing sufficient numbers of graduates in these
high-demand areas to meet the current or projected demand. For example,
Washington’s universities will produce enough graduates to fill only 635 of the
estimated 3,900 job openings per year in the state for computer professionals.
Washington’s small and medium-sized businesses are particularly hurt by these
shortages because they lack the time, money, and brand-identity needed to
recruit qualified employees from out of the state.
These trends have concerned many in the
state who are working to address the problem. The Prosperity Partnership is
among organizations studying education with a focus on increasing enrollment and
graduates in high demand disciplines, such as those contained in this request,
to form a consensus position on higher education reform. Washington Learns
deliberations have also dealt with access issues such as those addressed by this
request.
In response, Washington State University
has developed the following comprehensive action plan and budget proposal. This
proposal will ensure well-prepared state research university graduates to fill
the demands of the state’s knowledge-based economy via the following:
The “Pipeline Proposal”: Awareness,
Readiness & Transition:
Efforts to address the demand for
graduates in specific areas sometimes overlook a problem that goes beyond the
capacity of higher education institutions to educate students. According to the
National Center for Education Statistics, in 2004 less than 49% of Washington
high school graduates attended an institution of higher education within 12
months of graduation (“participation rate”). With a national average
participation rate of 65%, the state of Washington ranks just 48th
among the 50 states. Action is required to help transition and encourage more
Washington high school graduates to participate in post-secondary education.
Participation rates are also a concern in high-demand disciplines. Students
often drop out of the track or pipeline for college and high-demand programs
like engineering because of the rigorous preparation required in middle school
and high school. For the 49% of Washington high school graduates who pursue
post-secondary education, many find the mathematics and science requirements
related to high-demand disciplines in college too challenging and switch to
other majors.
In response to these concerns, this
portion of the decision package expands the capacity to educate through
activities directly related to the K-12 pipeline into the state’s
universities, as well as assuring that entering students desiring careers in
high-demand fields are adequately prepared to succeed. These objectives will be
accomplished through better student awareness of career opportunities, improving
pre-college readiness and improving transition of high school graduates through
the first years of college.
Awareness
● Enrich K-12 Math and Science
Curricula. Courses in engineering, biotechnology, and health science will be
developed and offered in conjunction with college preparatory mathematics and
science courses and be made available to Washington schools. WSU engineering,
science, and health science faculty members will work with WSU teacher education
faculty to develop these courses. These new courses will be similar to the
Project Lead the Way (PLTW) pre-engineering curricula currently being used in 38
middle and high schools in western Washington through the American Electronics
Association and the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
●
Extend Out-of-School Career Awareness
Programs Statewide. WSU Vancouver and WSU Extension have piloted several
successful out-of-school career exploration programs for middle and high school
students in the Southwest Washington region. Mathematical, science and
engineering concepts are woven into each program [see appendix A for a listing
of these programs]. This request will extend these programs that are currently
only available in Southwest Washington throughout the state.
Increase Pre-College Student Readiness
·
Enhance professional
development opportunities available to K-12 mathematics and science teachers.
Summer and academic year content workshops for teachers presented by
engineers, scientists, health science professionals, and other content experts
will be added to WSU’s existing menu of professional development offerings. In
addition, professional learning communities of engineers, scientists,
mathematicians, health scientists, education faculty, school administrators, and
K-12, community college, and university mathematics/science teachers will be
formed. These groups will meet periodically to share information and
experiences about teaching practices and curriculum.
·
Prepare more new K-12
mathematics and science teachers. To address Washington’s shortage of
mathematics and science teachers WSU will increase the number of new
mathematics/science teachers it prepares.
·
Initiate a
mathematics/science middle school level endorsement program. The “highly
qualified teacher” requirement of the No Child Left Behind legislation has
created a need for an additional endorsement in mathematics and science at the
middle school level.
·
Expand WSU’s science
equipment loan program. The College of Science has operated a successful
Equipment Loan Program over the last 13 years. It has helped teachers, in many
cases, meet state and national science education standards. Over 400 teachers
from more than 250 schools have borrowed WSU equipment, allowing 200,000
students to conduct hands-on experiments. Expansion of this program will help
more teachers to meet state and national standards as well as increase interest
and readiness among future science and engineering students.
Transition Programs
·
Change faculty pedagogy.
This proposal will provide resources to improve faculty teaching techniques
to retain students in the engineering, science and mathematics disciplines.
Experts in pedagogy will share ideas, offer workshops and work one-on-one with
faculty.
·
Bridge program. The goal
of this bridge program is to provide a transition/orientation from high school
to college. In 2005-2006 approximately 900 new freshmen students showed an
interest in majors offered in the College of Sciences and the College of
Engineering and Architecture on the Pullman campus. The majority of these
students also experienced the Summer Alive freshmen orientation program. WSU
proposes combining Summer Alive and the current College of Sciences and the
College of Engineering and Architecture Bridge program for all incoming students
interested in science- and mathematics-based fields of study.
·
Strengthen Tutor-Assisted
Study Halls. WSU proposes strengthening the university’s successful
tutor-assisted study halls programs in biology, chemistry, physics and
mathematics. The proposal allows WSU to hire juniors and seniors to tutor
freshmen and sophomore students in their residence halls.
● Assure Consistent Advising for
Freshmen. Good advising is a well-documented key to successful student
retention. New professional advisors in science and engineering will work with
students through residence halls and would involve existing faculty as needed to
assist in the advising. This strong focus on improving the living-learning
environment will also include special programming and speakers on career
activities.
|
|
|
2007-08 |
|
2008-09 |
|
Biennium |
|
Awareness |
|
204,000
|
|
496,000
|
|
700,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Readiness |
|
537,000
|
|
933,000
|
|
1,470,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Transition |
|
259,000
|
|
571,000
|
|
830,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
$1,000,000
|
|
$2,000,000
|
|
$3,000,000
|
|
|
2007-08 |
|
2008-09 |
|
2007-09 |
|
By Fund |
Staff FTE |
Dollars |
|
Staff FTE |
Dollars |
|
Biennium |
|
General Fund
State |
8.8 |
1,000,000
|
|
19.1
|
2,000,000
|
|
3,000,000
|
|
Tuition |
-
|
-
|
|
- |
-
|
|
-
|
|
Total |
8.8 |
$1,000,000
|
|
19.1
|
$2,000,000
|
|
3,000,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By
Program |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Instruction |
2.8 |
283,000
|
|
7.1
|
766,000
|
|
1,049,000
|
|
Public
Service |
6.0 |
717,000
|
|
12.0
|
1,234,000
|
|
1,951,000
|
|
Total |
8.8 |
$1,000,000
|
|
19.1
|
$2,000,000
|
|
$3,000,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By Object |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Salaries |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Faculty |
1.0
|
68,000
|
|
7.5
|
533,000
|
|
601,000
|
|
A/P |
7.0
|
233,000
|
|
8.0
|
359,000
|
|
592,000
|
|
TA/GA |
- |
-
|
|
2.0
|
72,000
|
|
72,000
|
|
Classified |
0.8
|
23,000
|
|
1.6
|
47,000
|
|
70,000
|
|
Benefits |
|
95,000
|
|
|
291,000
|
|
386,000
|
|
Goods/Services |
|
285,000
|
|
|
619,000
|
|
904,000
|
|
Travel |
|
46,000
|
|
|
29,000
|
|
75,000
|
|
Equipment |
|
250,000
|
|
|
50,000
|
|
300,000
|
|
Total |
8.8 |
$1,000,000
|
|
19.1 |
$2,000,000
|
|
$3,000,000 |
The High-Demand Enrollment Proposal:
Producing More Graduates in Engineering, Science, and Mathematics:
As a result of high-demand funding
awarded by the Legislature and WSU’s efforts to strategically invest in
high demand areas over the last 3 fiscal years, student FTE served in high
demand disciplines has increased by over 260 and the number of engineering,
science, math, and nursing majors at WSU has increased by over 10%. Even with
these combined efforts, Washington’s universities are not producing sufficient
numbers of graduates in high demand areas to meet current or projected demand.
Additional capacity in these high-demand areas must be created to meet the
demand of the state’s knowledge based economy via:
1. New Student Enrollments in
High-Demand Areas
WSU proposes the creation of new student
FTE enrollment capacity in high-demand areas of engineering, mathematics, and
science. During the biennium, this proposal will add 165 new student FTE in the
following high-demand areas:
