Instruction, Research, and Student Affairs April 22 , 2021
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INSTRUCTION, RESEARCH, AND STUDENT AFFAIRS APRIL 22 , 2021 TAB DESCRIPTION ACTION 1 PROGRAM PROGRESS REPORTS Information Item BOARD POLICY III.Q. – ADMISSION STANDARDS – 2 Action Item FIRST READING BOARD POLICY III.U. –TEXTBOOK AND 3 INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIAL AFFORDABILITY– FIRST Action Item READING BOARD POLICY III.Z. – DELIVERY OF 4 Action Item POSTSECONDARY PROGRAMS – SECOND READING BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY – MASTER OF SCIENCE IN 5 Action Item CYBERSECURITY 6 FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND RESPONSIBILITY Information Item IRSA TOC Page i INSTRUCTION, RESEARCH AND STUDENT AFFAIRS APRIL 22, 2021 SUBJECT Program Progress Reports REFERENCE December 2013 The Board approved amendments to policy III.G. that would require institutions to provide a report on graduate programs approved by the Board. December 2017 The Board was presented with program progress reports for graduate programs offered by Idaho universities. December 2018 The Board was presented with program progress reports for graduate programs offered by Idaho universities. APPLICABLE STATUTE, RULE, OR POLICY Idaho State Board of Education Governing Policies and Procedures, Section III.G.8., Postsecondary Program Approval and Discontinuance BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION Board Policy III.G.8. requires institutions to provide an initial progress report on graduate programs approved by the Board. This provision was added in response to Board member inquiries regarding status of new programs and whether institutions met their projected enrollments from initial proposal submission. While the reporting requirement pertains to graduate programs, the Board requested that staff include baccalaureate programs as part of the review process. This report is provided to Board members to help evaluate whether programs are meeting expectations regarding continued student interest and sustainability. Board staff, with input from the Council on Academic Affairs and Programs, developed a template and a timeline to determine when programs will be reviewed. • Baccalaureate programs - reviewed after six years of implementation. • Master’s programs - reviewed after four years of implementation. • Doctoral programs - reviewed after six years of implementation. In accordance with Board Policy III.G.8.b, Boise State University (BSU), Idaho State University (ISU), Lewis-Clark State College (LCSC), and University of Idaho (UI) submitted the following progress reports for this review cycle. Boise State University • Master of Science, Biomolecular Sciences • Education Specialist, Educational Technology • Master of Social Work IRSA TAB 1 Page 1 INSTRUCTION, RESEARCH AND STUDENT AFFAIRS APRIL 22, 2021 Idaho State University • Bachelor of Arts, Spanish for the Health Professions • Master of Science, Health Informatics Lewis-Clark State College • Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Arts, Exercise Science University of Idaho • Master’s in Public Administration • Ph.D., Experimental Psychology IMPACT Program progress reports will provide the Board with updates on new baccalaureate and graduate programs and whether institutions met intended goals and benchmarks. ATTACHMENTS Attachment 1 – BSU Program Progress Report - EdS Educational Technology Attachment 2 – BSU Program Progress Report - MS Biomolecular Sciences Attachment 3 – BSU Program Progress Report - MSW Social Work-Online Attachment 4 – ISU Program Progress Report - BA Spanish for Health Attachment 5 – ISU Program Progress Report - MS Health Informatics Attachment 6 – LCSC Program Progress Report - BS/BA Exercise Science Attachment 7 – UI Program Progress Report - PhD Experimental Psychology Attachment 8 – UI Program Progress Report - Masters in Public Administration STAFF COMMENTS Boise State University The Master of Science in Biomolecular Sciences was approved by the Board in June 2016. The program projected five enrollments in the first year and had an enrollment of four students during its first year of implementation. In the second year, the enrollment more than doubled. Based on actual numbers provided in the report, the program continued to maintain steady enrollment and reached higher numbers than originally projected; however, the program did see about nine less enrollments in FY2021. BSU reports that the projected number of graduates exceeded the projected levels by year four with seven graduates, and anticipates the program will graduate at least five students in FY21. Based on enrollment trends, BSU anticipates the program will likely continue to graduate at least five students per academic year. The Education Specialist in Educational Technology was approved by the Board in April 2016. The program projected 10 enrollments initially with approximately 20-48 enrollments for subsequent years. At the time of implementation, the program enrolled six students, and has enrolled an average 29 students over the last two years. BSU exceeded their graduate projections by year one of the IRSA TAB 1 Page 2 INSTRUCTION, RESEARCH AND STUDENT AFFAIRS APRIL 22, 2021 program, however, the numbers will likely remain stable at approximately 10-12 graduates per academic year based on enrollment trends. The Online Master of Social Work was approved by the Board in August 2015. The program projected approximately 157 enrollments the first year and reached 109 at time of implementation. Based on actual numbers provided in the report, the program exceeded enrollment projections. BSU also exceeded their graduate projections with 87-166 actual graduates in FY18 - FY20 compared to the 32-149 initially estimated. Idaho State University The Master of Science in Health Informatics was approved by the Board in June 2016 under the College of Business and was transferred to the Kasiska Division of Health Sciences in Fall 2019. Enhancements were made to the curriculum and the delivery mode at that time. This was primarily to bring curriculum in alignment with industry needs and specialized accreditation requirements. The initial program proposal submitted to the Board did not provide enrollment and graduate projections. Based on actual enrollment numbers provided, the program had fluctuating enrollment numbers ranging from 4-7 with four graduates realized in FY20. ISU reports that faculty turnover after the first year, including three department faculty leaving at the end of Spring 2017 term, were factors in the low enrollment numbers. While they were able to hire a new faculty member in Fall 2017, this faculty member has sole responsibility for managing, developing, and teaching courses under the program. With the program now offered online, enrollment is anticipated to grow. Marketing and promotional efforts are underway to assist in increasing enrollment. One student has been accepted to the program with an additional five to seven applicants anticipated for Fall 2021. Full-time tenure-track faculty and adjunct instructors have also been dedicated to solely support the program. The Bachelor of Arts in Spanish for the Health Professions was approved in May 2013 for a Fall 2014 start. ISU reports that the program has grown steadily and ahead of expectations since implementation. Based on actual numbers provided, the program met and exceeded enrollment projections with 36 initial enrollments and 46-61 enrollments in subsequent years compared to 10-20 projected. Based on the information provided, the program had 11 graduates in FY16 with fluctuating numbers from six to eleven in subsequent years. ISU reports that graduates of this program have experienced a high rate of successful placement in post-graduate opportunities and anticipates future growth as demand increases. The program has potential to expand and serve an even broader field of students in health and human services professions. Lewis-Clark State College The Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts in Exercise Science was approved in May 2014 for a Fall 2014 start. The initial program proposal submitted to the Board did not provide enrollment and graduate projections over three-year period IRSA TAB 1 Page 3 INSTRUCTION, RESEARCH AND STUDENT AFFAIRS APRIL 22, 2021 because those were not collected as part of the proposal process at that time. While projections were not provided, the program proposal did provide a statement indicating a projected 30 enrollments with a growth rate of 10% per year to reach a total enrollment of 60 students. The report provides that the anticipated growth rate of 10% per year was not realized; however, LC State reports the enrollments have remained fairly consistent even with the economic downturn and pandemic. Based on actual numbers provided in the report, the program reached nine enrollments at implementation with 31 enrollments starting in FY16 and 35 enrollments the following two years. LC State reports the program registered 24 students for spring 2021. The program reached nine graduates by year four (FY18) and two graduates in FY20. While those numbers have fluctuated, the program continues to see success with students achieving employment in their chosen fields and securing admission to graduate school. Indeed, the program indicates over 90% of their graduates who apply to graduate schools in allied health related fields are admitted. University of Idaho The Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology was approved by the Board in February 2014 for a Fall 2014 start. University of Idaho reports that the program has grown steadily and sustained enrollment; however, graduation rates have been inconsistent, with one graduate reported in FY17. The program reports that the unanticipated loss of two faculty