DOCUMENT RESUME ED 198 300 CE 027 958 TITLE Plans for the Development of a Regional Program of Optometric Education in the Western United States. Final Report, September 20, 1978-June 30, 1980. The Comprehensive Report. INSTITUTION Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education, Boulder, Colo. SPONS AGENCY Health Resources Administration (DHHS/PHS, Hyattsville, Md. Div. of Allied Health Professions. PUB CATE BO CONTRACT HRA-232-78-0130 NOTE 607p. EDFS PRICE MF03/PC25 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTCRS Access to Education: Educational Cooperation: Geographic Distribution: Higher Education; Intercollegiate Cooperation: *Labor Needs; *Labor Supply; Models; Needs: Needs Assessment; Optometrists: *Optometry: Program Development: Regional Cooperation: *Regional Planning: *Regional Programs IDENTIFIERS *United States (West); Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education ABSTRACT This final report summarizes work performed by the western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) to develop a plan to regionalize optometric educationin the western states. WICHE worked closely with a project advisory committee and the region's three schools of optometry to develop a regional plan. 'Personnel supply and demand in the western states were surveyed, and Other regidnal educational plans were examined for their applicability to optometry in the West: It was found that the existing 3 schools of optometry can meet the needs of the 13 western :states for educational opportunity-and for labor supply; and that althodgh'supply is faVorable, some maldistribution of practitioners exists among the states. The plan developed by WICHE includes the following programcomponents: (1) access and admission based on the needs of each state; (2) a cooperative network of off-campus clinical '':training sites; (3) a manpower program to encourage distribution; (4) resource sharing among the three schools of optometry; and (5) a financial plan. Coordination of the plan would occur at three levels: among schools: within each state, and at the regional level. A phased ':.impleMentation schedule and budget are included. Although the region -,could'support the planes operation, further funding would be required to develop the flew program components. (Author/KC) *********************************************************************** *. Reptoductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made * * from the original document. * *********************************************************************** PLANS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A REGIONAL PROGRAM OF OPTOMETRIC EDUCATION IN THE WESTERN UNITED STATES Final Report Covers Period of Performance During September 20, 1978 - June 30, 1980 The Comprehensive Report Contract No. HRA-232-78-0130 Contractoi. Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education NICHE) 1540 - 30th Street, P. O. Drawer P Boulder, Colorado80302 Contractor's Project Director Susan D. Klein, Ph.D. Sponsor DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Public Health Service U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. Health Resources Administration EDUCATION & WELFARE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF Division of Allied Health Professions EDUCATION Room 9-22, Center Building THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN REPRO- DUCED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED FROM 3700 East-West Highway THE PERSON OR ORGANIZATION ORIGIN- ATING IT. POINTS OF VIEW OR OPINIONS Hyattsville, Maryland 20782 STATED DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRE SENT OFFICIAL NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION POSITION OR POLICY Total Estimated Cost of Contract: $204,524.00 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page List of Tables Preface vii Abstract 1 Introduction to Main Text 2 Purpose of the Contract 5 Description of Tasks Required by the Contract 6 Discussion of Major Tasks: Methodological Approaches and Results. 9 A. Establish and Convene a Project Advisory Committee. 9 B.- Review of Regional Health Professional Education Programs 12 C. Compile and Analyze Data on Manpower Supply and Needs . 13 D. Develop a Preliminary Plan 17 E. State Reviews of the Preliminary Plan 19 F. Develop an Implementation Plan 21 G. Develop a Costing Methodology and Budget 24 Overall Success of the Project 30 Conclusion 33 A. Viability of the Regional Plan and Factors Affecting Implementation 33 B. This Plan as a Model 33 C. Future of the Plan , 34 Addenda A. Implementation of the Plan to cv,2gionalize Optometric Education in the West 37 (A-It-A-72) B. *Materials from Four Meetings of the Project Advisory Committee 121 (B-1--B-35) 3 iv TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) Addenda Page 159 C. Materials Used in State Reviews Sample Agenda for State Reviews of Regional Plan. 161 (C-1) List of Participants in State Reviews 163 (C-5--C-12) State-Specific Description of Regional Plan Used in State Reviews 173 (C- 15- -C -48) Summaries of State Reviews of the Regional Plan 209 (C-51--C-86) 247 D. Costing and Financial Plan Materials Total Implementation Budget 249 (D-1--D-11) Operational Budget for New Regional Program Components 261 (D-13--D-14) Cost of Optometric Education Survey and Projections 265 (D-17--D-68) E. Vision Manpower Needs in the Western States Separately Bound . Separately F. Review of Regional Health Professional Programs Bound G. Preliminary Plan--A Regional Plan for Optometric Education in the West, February 5, 1980 Separately Bound 4 LIST OF TABLES Page Project Advisory Committee 10 Framework of Key Elements 14 Represented at the State Reviews 20 State Reactions to Regional Plan 22 WICHE Optometry Project Costing Subcommittee 26 Summary of Projected Five-Year Budget 29 Graphic Presentation of Actual and Forecasted Performance. 32 vii PREFACE This project was performed under the direction of Susan Klein, Ph.D., Health Resources Program Director at Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE). William R. McConnell, Ed.D., Program Director for the Student Exchange Program, was responsible for the development of the costing materials and was involved in all other aspects of the contract. Allen H. Nelson, Ph.D., Staff Associate, was involved in analyzing the manpower data and developing the manpower projection methodology. The only major consultant employed was James Topping, Ph.D., who is on the staff of the National Center for Higher Education Management. 1 ABSTRACT This Final Report summarizes work performed by the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) to develop a plan to regionalize optometric education in the western states. WICHE worked closely with a Project Advisory Committee and the region's three schools of optometry to develop a regional plan. Two reports were prepared: 1) a manpower report describes the current supply of optometrists and projects each state's need for optometrists through 1990; 2) a second report examines other regional educational programs/plans for their applicability to optometry in the West. The existing three schools of optometry can meet the needs of the thirteen western states for educational opportunity (access) and for manpower. Although the supply of optometrists for the region is favorable, a maldistribution-of practitioners exists among states. In addition, there are populations in the region with unmet vision care nee Is. The program components of the Regional Plan include: 1) access and admissions based on the needs of each state; 2) a cooperative network of off-campus clinical training sites; 3) a manpower program to encourage dis- tribution; 4) resource sharing among the three schools of optometry; as well as 5) a financial ,'an. Coordination of the plan would occur at three levels: among schools, within each state, and at the regional level. A phased implementation schedule and budget is included. Although the region could support the plan's-operation, further funding would be required to develop the new program components. After approval by the Advisory Committee, the plan was reviewed by key leaders in each of the western states.The plan and process of development represent a useful model. 2 INTRODUCTION TO MAIN TEXT The Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education(WICHE) was created by governors andlegislators of the 13 western states to help them provide high-quality, cost effective programs to meetthe education and manpower needs of the West. WICHE'S goals are in access- - increasing the availability of higher education in the West; manpower- - assisting states to have the technically and professionallytrained persons they require; and quality-helping states increase the effectivenessand efficiency of their higher education programs. Member states are Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada,New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. WICHE has facilitated access to education in the westernstates through operation of the Student Exchange Program. The largest component of the Student Exchange Program, the ProfessionalStudent Exchange (PSEP), enables a student to enroll in a professional programin another state when that field of study is not available in the home state. Through the exchange, the student receives some degree of preferencein admission and pays resident tuition at a public school or pays approximatelyone-third of the standard tuition at a private school, while thestudent's state pays a support fee to the school receiving thestudent that helps cover the cost of education. This arrangement provides students throughoutthe West with increased access to professional programs at reducedtuition rates, while saving the states millions of dollars by avoiding duplicationof costly programs already available in the West. 8 3 Currently, fifteen professional fields