December 8, 2016 INTRODUCTION I. Program Description and Relationship to System-Level Goals A. Briefly describe within a few paragraphs the degree program under consideration, including (a) level; (b) emphases, including majors, concentrations, tracks, or specializations; (c) total number of credit hours; and (d) overall purpose, including examples of employment or education opportunities that may be available to program graduates. Level: The proposed degree program will be at the undergraduate level and will be a BS degree. This degree will be the first BS degree in Cell and Molecular Biology housed in a public university in the state of Florida. The proposed degree was developed from an existing major under the General Biology, CIP code 26.0101. The current major will be discontinued once the new degree program is in place. Emphasis, including concentrations, tracks, or specializations: The new Cell and Molecular Biology (CAM) degree program will provide a strong foundation in general biology with an emphasis on biomedical-related areas, and focusing on the cellular and molecular processes that occur within cells. Many recent breakthroughs in this field have shed light on how cells function in the context of the whole organism. The fields of genomics/computational biology are contributing knowledge to underlying gene regulation, cell-cell interactions, and organismal-environmental interactions. Advances in cell and molecular biology are leading to new treatments for age-related diseases including cancer. There will be no concentrations, tracks, or specializations. Total number of credit hours: This degree requires 120 credit hours--39 credit hours in the major. Overall purpose (including employment and education opportunities to program graduates): Students are drawn to this area of biology due to the diversity of course offerings, with a strong emphasis in Cell and Molecular Biology courses, along with multiple career options, such as biologist, biochemist, medical scientist, biological technician, clinical technician, research associate, and laboratory technologist and high school biology teachers following graduation. This new degree program will prepare students for professional careers in the areas of Cell Biology and Molecular Biology, including entrance to medical school, dental school, graduate school, as well as careers in biotechnology, science policy, biomedical research, teaching, science writing and illustration. The CAM degree will also hosts a vibrant student organization promoting networking with faculty both within and outside USF. B. Please provide the date when the pre-proposal was presented to CAVP (Council of Academic Vice Presidents) Academic Program Coordination review group. Identify any concerns that the CAVP review group raised with the pre-proposed program and provide a brief narrative explaining how each of these concerns has been or is being addressed. The pre-proposal was presented to the CAVP Academic Program Coordination review group on April 23rd, 2019. No concerns by the CAVP review group were raised with respect to the pre- proposal. C. If this is a doctoral level program please include the external consultant’s report at the end of the proposal as Appendix D. Please provide a few highlights from the report and describe ways in which the report affected the approval process at the university. Not Applicable. 2 December 8, 2016 D. Describe how the proposed program is consistent with the current State University System (SUS) Strategic Planning Goals. Identify which specific goals the program will directly support and which goals the program will indirectly support (see link to the SUS Strategic Plan on the resource page for new program proposal). The CAM degree will help achieve strategic goals of the university by providing affordable, accessible, and pedagogically structured education and research programs. It addresses the SUS emphasis on producing STEM degrees, which is a priority area for the state. The strategic emphasis on Cell and Molecular Biology supports the University’s commitment to strengthening the biomedical areas. Florida has identified STEM degrees as a priority for the development of the state. Therefore, this degree directly addresses the challenge to produce more STEM graduates. The CAM degree directly meets the following high-level SUS Strategic Planning goals (indicated by double checks) and also indirectly meets other goals as well (indicated by single checks). PRIORITIES OF THE STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM (SUS) STRATEGIC SUS GOALS EXCELLENCE PRODUCTIVITY PRIORITIES FOR A KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY Teaching & √√ Strengthen Quality √√ Increase √√ Increase the Learning & Reputation of Degree Number of Degrees Academic Programs Productivity and Awarded in STEM and Universities Program and Other Areas of Scholarship, √ Strengthen Quality & IncreaseEfficiency Research √Strategic Increase Emphasis Research, & Reputation of and Collaboration and Innovation Scholarship, Research, Commercializatio External Support for & Innovation n Activity Research Activity Community Strengthen Quality & Increase Levels of √√ Increased & Business Recognition of Community and Community and Engagement Commitment to Business Business Workforce Community and Engagement Business Engagement E. If the program is to be included in a category within the Programs of Strategic Emphasis as described in the SUS Strategic Plan, please indicate the category and the justification for inclusion. The Programs of Strategic Emphasis Categories: 1. Critical Workforce: • Education • Health • Gap Analysis 2. Economic Development: • Global Competitiveness 3. Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Please see the Programs of Strategic Emphasis (PSE) methodology for additional explanations on program inclusion criteria at the resource page for new program proposal. The category within the Programs of Strategic Emphasis as described in the SUS Strategic Plan is the “Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM)” category. This category contains six subcategories of which the “Medical Science and Technology” category is the one best suited. The CIP 26 is already 3 December 8, 2016 listed in the STEM CIP codes. F. Identify any established or planned educational sites at which the program is expected to be offered and indicate whether it will be offered only at sites other than the main campus. The CAM undergraduate degree will be offered on the Tampa campus at USF in the existing Department of Cell Biology, Microbiology, and Molecular Biology (CMMB) in the College of Arts and Sciences. INSTITUTIONAL AND STATE LEVEL ACCOUNTABILITY II. Need and Demand A. Need: Describe national, state, and/or local data that support the need for more people to be prepared in this program at this level. Reference national, state, and/or local plans or reports that support the need for this program and requests for the proposed program which have emanated from a perceived need by agencies or industries in your service area. Cite any specific need for research and service that the program would fulfill. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has projected a steady growth of 7 percent over the next ten years (2018- 2028). In 2018, there were more than 85,000 people employed nationwide as biological technicians in the field, and the median annual wage was $44,500 (url: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social- science/biological-technicians.htm, visited 10/4/2019). According to Projections Central, Florida’s long- term occupational projections (2016-2026) show a positive increase of 18 percent (url: https://projectionscentral.com/Projections/LongTerm, visited 10/4/2019). Many of our current graduates become high school science teachers. The same website indicates at 21.4 percent increase in Biological Science Teachers over the period 2016-2026. Burning Glass analysis (Appendix C) reveals that in the Tampa-St. Petersburg region, there were 1,240 job postings in the field of cell and molecular biology in 2018-2019. In Florida, there were 5,863 postings, and nationwide there were more than 140,000 job postings in cell and molecular biology. Graduates of this program usually transition into any of the six different occupation groups as follows: biologist, biochemist, medical scientist, biological technician, clinical technician, research associate, and laboratory technologist. B. Demand: Describe data that support the assumption that students will enroll in the proposed program. Include descriptions of surveys or other communications with prospective students. Data from the USF InfoCenter (http://usfweb.usf.edu/dss/infocenter/; visited 5/31/2019) has revealed that since its inception in the fall of 2014, the student headcount in the CAM major has been steadily rising, starting at 634 students in the 2014-2015 academic year, to 799 students in 2018-2019. This represents a growth in student headcount of approximately 5% per year over the past five academic cycles; a trend that is expected to continue in the future. C. If substantially similar programs (generally at the four-digit CIP Code or 60 percent similar in core courses), either private or public exist in the state, identify the institution(s) and geographic location(s). Summarize the outcome(s) of communication with such programs with regard to the potential impact on their enrollment and opportunities for possible collaboration (instruction and research). In Appendix C, provide data that support the need for an additional program. There are currently no approved undergraduate