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Draft Proposal to the UW Board of Regents

to Establish a

Science and Technology Program

at the

University of Washington Bothell

July 7, 2008

Establishment of a Science and Technology Program at UW Bothell

PROPOSED ACTION

The administration of the University of Washington Bothell (UWB) is seeking approval from the Board of Regents to establish a Science and Technology Program. This program will provide the organizational structure to support the growth of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and Health fields at UWB.

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE

Meeting the challenges of the 21st^ century will depend on world-class scientific and technological innovation. Historically, such advances have been the engine of progress and economic prosperity for the US and its citizens, but a 2005 National Academies report expresses deep concern “that the scientific and technological building blocks critical to our economic leadership are eroding at a time when many other nations are gathering strength.” (Page 3, Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future.). The report calls for concerted action “to enhance the science and technology enterprise so that the United States can successfully compete, prosper, and be secure in the (new) global community.” (Page 2, Gathering Storm.)

The National Academies report recommends increasing “the number and proportion of US citizens who earn bachelor’s degrees in the physical sciences, the life sciences, engineering and mathematics,” an essential goal that is also explicit in Washington State’s 2008 Strategic Master Plan for Higher Education.

An internationally acclaimed research university, the University of Washington (UW) has long provided critical leadership in these fields through education and research initiatives, STEM degree production and innovative models for addressing critical challenges. Recognizing its need to complement these endeavors with greater intensity, UWB has recently completed a plan that identifies the institution’s top priorities for growth until 2020. Our top priority is to “serve the citizens of the state of Washington by providing access to a premier university education,” with particular emphasis on developing new degree programs that respond to economic development needs of the state and region. Specifically, the areas of science, technology, engineering and math were identified as top priorities for immediate growth.

CONCEPT OVERVIEW: PROPOSED SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM

To foster development and excellence in growing these fields, UWB proposes to create a new Science and Technology Program. The goal of the program is to provide the disciplinary depth, scale and autonomy needed to develop STEM fields and allow for the growth that will best serve our students and region in the future.

Establishment of a Science and Technology Program at UWB (continued p.2)

The Science and Technology Program will build a curriculum that prepares students to enter the science, technology and biomedical/biotechnology workforce; qualify for related graduate programs; qualify for health-related professional schools such as medicine, nursing, pharmacy, dentistry and public health; or enter teacher education programs.

The new unit is further charged with creating a program that will serve as a model for innovative, effective teaching and scholarship that reflects UWB’s commitment to diversity and providing educational opportunities for underserved students. The UWB mission statement calls for “innovative and creative curricula” and the 21st^ Century Campus Initiative: UWB Priorities Plan 2008- 2020 identifies an “enhance(d) campus commitment to diversity and inclusiveness” as a priority. This reflects growing awareness that the US must make “a national commitment to develop more of the talent of all our citizens, especially the under-represented majority — the women, minorities, and persons with disabilities who comprise a disproportionately small part of the nation’s science, engineering, and technology workforce,” writes Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute President Shirley Ann Jackson in The Quiet Crisis: America’s Economic and National Security at Risk. (www.rpi.edu/homepage/quietcrisis/)

This issue is addressed in the 2008 Strategic Master Plan for Higher Education, which notes that “too few women and people of color earn degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields” and calls for additional efforts to encourage and serve underrepresented students.

These two themes – innovation and diversity – are deeply embedded in both program and curricular designs for the model Science & Technology Program we seek to create. We will utilize innovative and effective pedagogical methods and technologies, as well as support services, to create an environment of inclusiveness and success for all students. Success in higher education begins with pre-collegiate preparation, thus our focus will also include enhancing outreach to P-12 students and teachers. One such program, Imagine, begins in Summer 2008 for students in grades 6-8 and 9-12. Using experiential learning techniques, this Education Program series “is designed to capture students’ imaginations as they learn about environmental stewardship through an integrated curriculum in math, science, and language arts.”

The Science and Technology Program and curriculum will:

• Articulate clear learning goals to prepare students for the next steps in their careers and education.
• Identify national models for innovative and inclusive science and math education. Reinforce UW Bothell’s signature of hands-on and problem- solving curricula, as well as student-based research. Incorporate these for students at all levels.
• Provide freshmen and sophomores with multiple success points and fundamental skills to succeed in S & T programs. Build a curriculum that recognizes different learning styles and creates an environment of success for talented yet underprepared students.

Establishment of a Science and Technology Program at UWB (continued p.4)

The overall academic organization chart, including the proposed unit and current and proposed degrees, is below:

UW Bothell Academic Programs

Business Administration

Business^ BA Admin

Finance

& Innovation^ Technology Management

Marketing

ManagementInformation Systems

Management

Accountingoption

American Studies

CommunityPsychology

Global Studies

Society, Ethics, &Human Behavior

Literature, and the^ Culture, Arts

Technology &^ Science, the Environment

Education InterdisciplinaryArts & Sciences Nursing

MBA (^) K-8 M.Ed BAIAS MAPS BSN MN

PCP^ Secondary certifiedM.Ed MACS

IndividualStudies

Technology &^ Science, Society

EnvironmentalPolicy

EnvironmentalScience

InterdisciplinaryArts

Key Program Degree Concentrationor Focus Proposed

Computing and Software Systems

Applied^ BA Computing

CSS^ BS

MS

Proposed Science and Technology Engineering

Academic Affairs

CUSP

Integrated^ BS Science

Other Sciencedegrees

Pre-healthSciences

Electrical Eng.^ BS

Integrated Science

Biological^ BS Sciences

EnvironmentalHealth

Quantitative^ Math & Reasoning related to existing^ Minors programs, e.g.,Biotechnology

DEMAND AND IMPACT

Student Demand:

Student interest in science and technology fields is strong nationwide. Five of the top ten highest-enrolled fields of study in the US are in STEM, health or education fields, according the US Department of Education.

Highest-Enrolled Fields of Study in the US All Students % of Total Total by field of study (in thousands) 21, Undeclared or not in a degree program 4,328 19.8% Business, Management & Marketing 3,431 15.7% Health Professions & Related Sciences 2,672 12.2% Education 1,951 8.9% Computer & Information Sciences 998 4.6% Liberal Arts, Sciences & Humanities 900 4.1% Engineering 683 3.1% Visual & Performing Arts 664 3.0% Psychology 617 2.8% Biological & Biomedical Sciences 500 2.3% Source: US Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 2003-04 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study.

Establishment of a Science and Technology Program at UWB (continued p.5)

In Washington State, nearly 19% of students taking the SAT in 2007 indicated their desire to major in a health professions or clinical field. Taken together, an additional 20% sought degrees in computing, engineering and science fields.

Top Intended Majors of Washington State SAT Takers (3/2007) INTENDED MAJORS (clustered) # % Health Professions & Related Clinical 4403 19% Business Management, Marketing & Related 3621 15% Computer & Info Sciences, Engineering, Engineering Technologies/Technicians 2946 12% Visual and Performing Arts 2245 9% Sciences: Biological & Biomedical, Physical, Natural Resources & Conservation 1853 8% Education 1753 7% History, Legal Professions & Studies, Public Administration & Social Services Professions, Social Sciences 1418 6% Communication, Journalism & Related 871 4% Psychology 832 4% Architecture and Related Services 587 2% Data from College-Bound Seniors 2007, State Profile Report Washington at www.collegeboard.com)

UWB recently completed a survey of students from regional community colleges. Among all students, the most desired fields of study were, in order, Business, Health/Nursing, Social Sciences, Computer Sciences and Sciences. Students were specifically asked about their level of interest in programs of study not currently offered at UWB. Their responses, in order, were: Information Technology, Law/Public Policy, Science, and Engineering.

Workforce Demand:

Workforce demand in STEM fields is growing, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). “Professional and related occupations are projected to be one of the two fastest growing major occupational groups, and are expected to add more jobs than any other major occupational group, about 5 million, by 2016.” (Occupational Outlook Handbook, Tomorrow’s Jobs, at www.bls.gov) Of these, nearly three quarters of new jobs, or 3.5 million, will be in “computer and mathematical occupations, healthcare practitioners and technical occupations, and education, training, and library occupations.” (Tomorrow’s Jobs)

According to Washington State Economics and Labor Market’s 2006 report, the annual growth rate in jobs is especially high in all areas of STEM.

Establishment of a Science and Technology Program at UWB (continued p.7)

Regional Workforce Demand and Economic Impact:

Regional workforce projections show strong growth in engineering, computing, and science fields, with high wages associated with these occupations. The tables below from Workforce Explorer Washington show rankings of high-growth fields in King and Snohomish Counties. Engineering fields, targeted for development at UWB, show strong annual growth in both counties.

Workforce Projections - Occupations requiring long preparation 2004- King County (source: Workforce Explorer Occupational Outlook)

Occupational Titles

Estimated Employment 2004

Average Annual Growth Rate

Average Annual Total Growth

Estimated Average Wage June 2006 Computer Software Engineers, Applications 20,437 3.1% 977 $83, Computer Programmers 9,038 3.4% 606 $92, Computer Software Engineers, Systems Software 11,124 3.3% 560 $88, Market Research Analysts 6,188 2.7% 374 $81, Multimedia Artists and Animators 3,089 3.1% 190 $55, Civil Engineers 6,621 2.1% 268 $71, Technical Writers 1,999 3.1% 139 $72, Management Analysts 7,453 2.0% 279 $74, Aerospace Engineers 4,687 2.1% 247 $81, Architects, Except Landscape and Naval 2,370 2.9% 111 $69, Employment, Recruitment and Placement Specialists 2,177 2.9% 112 $56, Network Systems and Data Communications Analysts 4,362 2.2% 162 $73, Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists 3,507 2.2% 154 $66, Computer and Information Systems Managers 3,909 2.1% 171 $114, Network and Computer Systems Administrators 6,389 1.9% 213 $69, Occupations are ranked based on the average of three criteria: average annual growth rate, number of job openings due to growth, and total number of job openings due to growth and replacement

Snohomish County

Occupational Titles

Estimated Employment 2004

Average Annual Growth Rate

Average Annual Total Growth

Estimated Average Wage June 2006 Aerospace Engineers 4,160 2.5% 243 $81, Rehabilitation Counselors 959 2.8% 56 $31, Management Analysts 2,041 2.2% 82 $74, Loan Officers 767 2.5% 37 $61, Engineers, All Other 638 2.6% 34 $78, Engineering Managers 802 2.4% 41 $121, Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists 299 3.7% 20 $66, Civil Engineers 753 2.3% 33 $71, Construction Managers 1,052 2.1% 46 $109, Natural Sciences Managers 211 3.8% 15 $112, Business Operations Specialists, All Other 1,647 1.8% 64 $65, Industrial Engineers 888 1.9% 44 $69, General and Operations Managers 1,387 1.8% 56 $130, Accountants and Auditors 1,664 1.7% 66 $61, Speech Language Pathologists 304 2.6% 18 $55,

Increased degree opportunities in STEM fields offer economic benefits for both graduates and their communities. According the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 16 of

Establishment of a Science and Technology Program at UWB (continued p.8)

25 occupations with the highest median annual earnings are in health care, engineering, computing, sciences and mathematics fields.

Occupations with the highest median earnings, May 2006 Occupation Median earnings

Chief executives greater than $145, Physicians and Surgeons greater than $145, Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers 141, Dentists 136, Air traffic controllers 117, Podiatrists 108, Engineering managers 105, Lawyers 102, Judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates 101, Computer and information systems managers 101, Natural sciences managers 100, Marketing managers 98, Petroleum engineers 98, Astronomers 95, Pharmacists 94, Physicists 94, Computer and information scientists, research 93, Sales managers 91, Optometrists 91, Financial managers 90, Nuclear engineers 90, Political scientists 90, Computer hardware engineers 88, Aerospace engineers 87, Mathematicians 86, 25 occupations with the highest median annual earnings in May 2006. (Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates.)

According to a 2006 UWB report, workforce demand for college graduates in STEM fields was found to be high throughout the region, with projections from the Prosperity Partnership and the HECB’s studies of needs in Snohomish, Island and Skagit Counties (SIS) indicating that “the unmet demand for communities served by UWB is in the range of 1,000-3,000 additional annual FTEs.” (UWB Applied Science and Technology Planning (ASTP) Group Report).

According to census data, the region is home to 20,276 private non-farm businesses, over 75 percent of which are located in Snohomish County. “As such, much of the region’s employer demand is driven by the key industries in

Establishment of a Science and Technology Program at UWB (continued p.10)

In addition to these degrees within the Science and Technology Program, collaborations, projects and interdisciplinary connections will continue to foster STEM-related depth, perspective and growth across campus. Ongoing projects include: Space Huskies, CSS internship programs, participation in global and regional air pollution research, Education outreach programs for pre-collegiate students, involvement in the UW Restoration Ecology Network, and CUSP participation in Summer Institutes on “Sustainability and the Curriculum.” Additional programs, including student opportunities to participate in ongoing chemistry research into the international coffee crisis, will provide the real-world experiences that are hallmarks of the UWB curriculum.

As UWB achieves the growth envisioned in the 21st^ Century Campus Initiative, additional degrees will be developed at a steady pace, to create the comprehensive array of the programs needed to serve our constituents. Between 2008 and 2020, available degrees and professional certifications are projected to grow from 11 to 60, not including minors and options within degrees. The anticipated academic profile for 2020 includes new degrees in the following areas:

• STEM and Health, including Allied Health, Nursing, Biochemistry, Mathematics, Physics and additional Engineering fields
• Social Sciences, including Communications, Sociology and Economics
• Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences, including Culture, Literature and the Arts, Environmental Studies and Performance Studies
• Other fields, including Education Leadership, Foreign Language and Culture options, and Game Design.

PROCESS

Focused planning for STEM growth began in 2006 with an analysis of workforce and enrollment demand undertaken by the UWB Applied Science and Technology Planning (ASTP) Group. The ASTP report provided the in-depth analysis that served as a basis for further development.

In 2008, in conjunction with the campus-wide priorities planning process, a STEM Task Force was appointed to recommend ways to accelerate growth in these fields. In addition to making curricular and timeline recommendations, the task force was charged with considering the best institutional structure to insure effective development. Through its deliberations and analysis of UWB’s current organizational structure and capabilities, the group identified three criteria needed to successfully meet student and regional needs for STEM growth: a degree of autonomy regarding curricula, faculty recruitment, and tenure and promotion; a place at the table in administrative and budgetary decision-making; and an umbrella for multiple department-like entities.”

The task force analyzed several organizational options in depth, including the creation of a new unit such as the proposed Science and Technology Program. These were outlined in the report of the task force, which received wide review during a 30-day open comment period. Comments from this review,

Establishment of a Science and Technology Program at UWB (continued p.11)

recommendations through program, faculty and campus-wide meetings, along with analysis of available resources, were all taken into account in developing the current proposal.

RESOURCES AND FUNDING

Though funding for science degrees is not inexpensive, UWB is committed to providing the resources necessary to ensure the success of STEM studies.

We intend to launch the Science and Technology Program through a combination of strategies, including reallocation of current resources. We will also develop additional resources, through state funding, increased grant opportunities, and community partnerships. A concerted effort on each of these fronts will allow us to fund the required new faculty and provide essential student support services to create the model program we envision.

Our top priority for new resources in 2008-09 and 2009-10 is to support the new unit, including the hiring of new permanent faculty.

Many of UWB’s current faculty have expertise in a range of science, technology, health and mathematics fields. We will build the new program from the strength of this talent. Interested faculty will have opportunities to move their appointments in whole or part to the new unit, and new faculty will be recruited to provide the additional depth and expertise for new degree programs.

To ensure access to needed facilities in the short-term, we are pursuing arrangements with Cascadia Community College to share laboratory space on an interim basis. At the same time, we will enhance our own facilities by reassigning space and through long-term planning. Pre-design conversations regarding the future UWB 3 are currently underway, with a focus on accommodating growth in the sciences.

Resourcefulness, a key priority of the 21 st^ Century Campus Initiative, underlies all of our planning for STEM field advancement. With our priorities clearly outlined, we will carefully align our human and financial resources toward achieving our goal of growth with distinction.

ATTACHMENTS

21 st^ Century Campus Initiative: UW Bothell Priorities Plan 2008-

21 st^ Century Campus Initiative Priority/Action Sheet

Establishment of a Science and Technology Program at UWB (continued p.13)

• Occupational Outlook Snohomish County, 2004-
• Washington State Economics and Labor Market Report 2006

Washington State Higher Education Coordinating Board (HECB) Reports: http://www.hecb.wa.gov

• HECB 2008 Strategic Master Plan
• HECB 2006 State and Regional Needs Assessment

Washington State Office of the Governor www.governor.wa.gov/priorities/education/

General Faculty Organization • Office of Academic Affairs • General Staff Organization

UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON BOTHELL

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General Faculty Organization * Office of Academic Affairs * General Staff Organization

Purpose and Goals for the UWB Priorities Plan

The University of Washington Bothell (UWB) is one of three campuses of the University of Washington (UW), an internationally renowned research university. As a publicly funded university, UWB exists to serve the educational needs of the citizens of the state of Washington. In its 2008 Strategic Master Plan, the state Higher Education Coordinating Board (HECB) outlined two goals for providing what the people of our state want and need from their public higher education system:

HECB Goal 1: We will create a high-quality higher education system that provides expanded opportunity for more Washingtonians to complete postsecondary degrees, certificates and apprenticeships. HECB Goal 2: We will create a higher education system that drives greater economic prosperity, innovation and opportunity.

The 21 st^ Century Campus Initiative: UWB Priorities Plan for 2008-2020 addresses our state’s need to expand access to higher education by outlining a clear and compelling vision for how we intend to grow in both size and excellence.

Developed as a partnership between faculty, staff and administration, with input from students, alumni and community advisors, the UWB Priorities Plan identifies the priorities and actions to guide us in addressing the following overall institutional goals:

• Build a distinctive 21st^ Century public institution reflecting our mission and campus priorities.
• Grow to a combined enrollment of 5,000 undergraduate and graduate students by 2020 to serve the needs of our region.
• Achieve distinctiveness and growth in a fiscally responsible manner.

The purpose of the 21st^ Century Campus Initiative is to lead us toward success in meeting these goals, by focusing our energies and resources in an intentional manner as we pursue a common vision.

Page 3 Approved 5/30/08, 21cci-b

General Faculty Organization * Office of Academic Affairs * General Staff Organization

UWB Mission Statement

The UW Bothell holds the student-faculty relationship to be paramount. We provide access to excellence in higher education through innovative and creative curricula, interdisciplinary teaching and research, and a dynamic community of multicultural learning.

• Serve college-age and established adult students, as well as the community at large, by providing access to a premier institution of higher education.
• Emphasize and develop critical thinking, writing, and information literacy, in order to graduate students with life-long learning skills.
• Actively recruit and support outstanding faculty scholars with a passion for communication.
• Build an inclusive and supportive community of learning and incorporate multicultural content and diverse perspectives on ethnic and racial groups, gender, sexual orientation, social class, and special needs.
• Encourage and support collaborative, interdisciplinary, and cross-program initiatives.
• Provide quality curricula by making use of the best of educational technology in support of teaching and learning.
• Attract and support an internationally diverse student body and a nationally recognized faculty and staff.
• Create and support excellence in student services, academic services such as library, writing center, computing services, and physical facilities.
• Foster productive relationships with the employment community and promote a strong public service commitment.

From Mission to Priorities Planning

The successful development of UWB rests on the rich framework established by the founding faculty in 1990. Since that date the university has grown from 26 students to over 1800, guided throughout by the vision and accomplishments of the entire campus, its programs and units. Planning milestones include: