MAKING an IMPACT Improving the Quality of Life and Economic Competitiveness for Marylanders INTRODUCTION
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MAKING AN IMPACT Improving the quality of life and economic competitiveness for Marylanders INTRODUCTION CONTENTS Towson University—Serving Maryland 3 Introduction Long before the word innovation became the mantra it is today, Towson University was leading the way. Maryland’s leaders realized that public higher education pays untold dividends in the 4 Key Indicators well-being of individuals, their families, and their communities. They broke from the norm and created a place where qualified 6 Economic and Workforce Development teachers could be trained. In 1866, we opened our doors as the State Normal School. Although it seems like a simple idea today, it 10 Applied Research was actually quite innovative for the time. 16 Entrepreneurship 150 years later, Towson University is still leading the way. Our focus has been expanded and that spirit of innovation has been 20 Partnerships extended to include professions relevant to an ever-changing economy and workforce. 24 Student Experience TU is a major educator of health professionals in our region. Over the last six years alone, we have sent 26 Expertise & Services nearly 1,000 nurses into the workforce. TU is educating students to meet the needs of children through the Teacher as Leader in Autism Spectrum Disorder Master of Education degree program. TU is the only institution in Maryland to be named a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Operations. And, our students are placed in roles at highly coveted NSA cyber security agencies. TU is providing Maryland’s leaders and legislators with the tools and information they need to make critical decisions through the Center for GIS and Regional Economic Studies Institute (RESI). TU is raising student achievement by infusing arts instruction across disciplines through the Arts Integration Institute. Not only does our continued focus on innovation and applied research enhance academic excellence and student success, it facilitates partnerships and fosters the growth of entrepreneurship among our faculty, staff, and students. We are committed to working both within the university and with our neighbors across the region to ensure we meet the needs of our community. With 92,000 current alums living in Maryland, it is Towson graduates that are running our cities, starting businesses, building families, and creating a thriving economy. And for the next 150 years, Towson University will continue to lead the way. Dr. Timothy Chandler Interim President Towson University 2 Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Applied Research 2015 Report Towson University 3 KEY INDICATORS KEY INDICATORS Towson University faculty, students, and professional staff actively ECONOMIC IMPACT DATA pursue basic and applied research, often in collaboration with community partners. The solutions we develop and produce Over the past 150 years, Towson University has evolved into Maryland’s positively impact our region’s economy, environment, health, community-engaged, public university with a total current enrollment of over and education system. 22,000. Our commitment to education, research, partnerships, and workforce development makes us a driving force for Maryland’s economy. RESEARCH PORTFOLIO 11% – FEDERAL 46% – STATE 27% – CORPORATE $139.4 4% – FOUNDATIONS BILLION 12% – OTHER Total 150,000 46,000 92,000 Economic ALUMNI DEGREES AWARDED TOWSON ALUMNI IN THE LAST 10 YEARS LIVE IN MARYLAND Impact 1866–2014 BY THE NUMBERS $18 mil 7,508 2,557 $887 MILLION $2.2 BILLION+ $176.9 MILLION IN OUTPUT CONTRIBUTED STATE AND LOCAL IN EVENT SPENDING TU received over $18 TU students participated People received workforce BY TOWSON STEM TAX REVENUES 1963–2014 million in research awards in for-credit internship and career training and GRADUATES 1866–2014 in FY 2015 experiences in the 14-15 continuing education academic year instruction from the Center for Professional Studies in FY 2015 4 Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Applied Research 2015 Report Towson University 5 WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT Putting Resources to Work Towson University cultivates an ecosystem that prepares students to achieve greater success in the workforce by conferring degrees and certifications at the ECONOMIC AND undergraduate, graduate, and professional studies levels. The Center for Professional Studies (CPS) allows students and business professionals alike to make themselves more valuable by offering marketable credentials in high-growth industries. Responding to market demands, our academic offerings and continuing education WORKFORCE programs—project management, STEM, cyber security, and applied information technology—are tied to our state’s business and industry strengths, making Towson DEVELOPMENT University the workforce hub for the University System of Maryland. Over the past 50 years, we have awarded nearly 40,000 STEM-related degrees. 6 Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Applied Research 2015 Report Towson University 7 WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IMPROVING MARYLAND'S ECONOMY MARKET-DRIVEN PROGRAMS AND COMPETITIVENESS Towson University continues to serve the needs of Towson University is meeting the demands of a Towson University fosters an environment in which our Maryland’s workforce, specifically in the high growth projected shortfall of registered nurses and physician resources have a direct and positive impact on Maryland's fields of healthcare, occupational and speech therapy, assistants. The Essex Physician Assistant Program economy and competitiveness. construction-related technology, and information is the oldest and most well established program in security. With a combination of high quality degree Maryland. Our nursing department was the first and non-degree programs that are driven by industry, educational program in Maryland to offer the associate- “Our approach we are able to meet employer demand by providing to-bachelor’s (ATB) program, in which students pursue to economic programs that address critical skill gaps and strengthen associate and bachelor’s degrees concurrently. In 2015, development is Maryland’s talent-driven economy. The College of Health Professions’ Department of inclusive and Nursing received a $1.65 million grant to expand the broad. Building on ATB program. community-engaged partnerships, we translate our applied research, entrepreneurial BIM Institute endeavors, and Engaged Students market-place BUILDING INFORMATION MODELING – CONSTRUCTION’S NEW FRONTIER driven academic Technology Transferrable The BIM Institute at Towson University was and workforce Incubator Companies created to support the construction industry’s development Development Workforce need for education and training in BIM (building programs into and Staff Expertise Faculty information modeling) and other construction- valuable resources related technology in Maryland. Our professional and tools to Services Technical and Applied Research development opportunities allow students to meet improve Maryland’s the demand for higher-level skills now required in Community Engagement Partnerships our region’s construction industry. economic competitiveness” – Dyan Brasington, Thriving Communities Vice President, New Enterprise Development Division of Innovation Prepared and Relevant Workforce and Applied Research Efficient and Productive Government Using BIM technology allows professionals to produce Informed Policymakers and Business Leaders drawings and three-dimensional models in less time. Complicated design and construction issues become apparent in the model, rather than at the construction site, saving time and money. 8 Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Applied Research 2015 Report Towson University 2015 9 APPLIED RESEARCH Towson University values and supports applied research across the institution. Faculty and staff from the Division of Innovation and Applied Research and our six colleges perform research that addresses real-world issues that directly impact our communities, government, and private and non-profit sectors. APPLIED Efficiency in Government MAKING THE EMEDICAID SYSTEM BETTER FOR ALL RESEARCH The Division of Innovation and Applied Research worked with the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to develop and host the eMedicaid web-based applications. These apps support Medicaid’s Health Care Provider community and have expanded provider access; standardized the exchange of information; increased the speed of communication; lowered the per unit cost of transactions; and increased the accuracy of business processes. LEVERAGING GIS SKILLS ACROSS MARYLAND GIS (geographic information systems) technology allows policy makers to make better informed decisions based on location analytics. With assistance from Salisbury University and WBCM Architecture, Engineering, and Construction, the Center for GIS provides classroom and online instruction in GIS to Maryland state employees and contractors through the Statewide GIS Training Program. With this training, employees are able to capture, analyze, and present data in a spatial form, helping with decisions that affect Maryland’s economy, government, and environment. CREATING EFFICIENCIES FOR MARYLAND AGENCIES Strategic planning is essential for the efficiency and effectiveness of any organization. The Center for Professional Studies facilitates strategic planning for the Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation. This allows the agency to develop goals to improve operations and service to citizens, reduce costs, train staff, and use resources more efficiently. Each goal advances Governor Larry Hogan’s four initiatives: Fiscal