WASHINGTON HIGHER EDUCATION COORDINATING BOARD 1 Washington State & Regional Needs Assessment Pacific Northwest Association for Institutional Research

WASHINGTON HIGHER EDUCATION COORDINATING BOARD

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Washington State & Regional Needs

Assessment

Pacific Northwest Association for Institutional Research and

Planning

2005 Annual Conference


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Regional and State Needs Assessment

A “comprehensive and ongoing assessment process to analyze the

need for additional degrees and programs, additional off-campus centers and locations for degree programs, and consolidation or

elimination of programs by the four-year institutions.”

RCW 28B.76.230


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IntroductionThe HECB and other state agencies and institutions are charged with stewardship of state higher education resources.

The strategic master plan for higher education calls for:

Data-driven decisions related to the allocation of student enrollments. (Master plan strategy 2)

Assessment of regional higher education needs to meet student, employer, and community demand. (Master plan strategy 6).

The needs assessment, in conjunction with analysis of institutional roles and missions, will drive academic program and facility planning and approval.


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Workgroup Membership (Key Stakeholders)

- Council of Presidents (public four-year institutions)

- Department of Community, Trade & Economic Development

- Independent Colleges of Washington (private four-year institutions)

- Office of Financial Management

- State Board for Community & Technical Colleges

- Workforce Training & Education Coordinating Board


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Legislative Direction

The HECB is to examine:

• Regional and statewide projections of student, employer, and community demand for higher education

• Current and projected degree programs and enrollment at public and private colleges and universities

• Data on the supply and demand for workforce education, including job training certificates and associate degrees

(RCW 28B.76.230)


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Scope of Analysis• How many student enrollments are needed for the state to

respond to overall student demand?

• How many trained workers are required to meet employer demand for prepared workers?

• What are the community needs for higher education, and how can the state respond to these needs?

• What is current and planned capacity in Washington colleges and universities?

• How many degrees are produced annually in Washington (by field of study, region, and educational sector)?

• How many enrollments are needed for less-than-baccalaureate level programs to meet employer demand?


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Statewide Results – Baccalaureate Degrees Awarded

Baccalaureate Degrees Awarded

0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 8000

Humanities

Social/behavioral sciences

Life sciences

Physical sciences

Mathematics

Computer/information science

Engineering

Education

Business/management

Health

Vocational/technical

Other technical/professional

2001-2002

2002-2003

2003-2004


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Statewide Results – Graduate Degrees Awarded

Graduate Degrees Awarded

0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 8000

Humanities

Social/behavioral sciences

Life sciences

Physical sciences

Mathematics

Computer/information science

Engineering

Education

Business/management

Health

Vocational/technical

Other technical/professional

2001-2002

2002-2003

2003-2004


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Projected Annual Openings 2007-2012

Projected Annual Openings for Workers with a Baccalaureate Degree or Higher, by Occupation: 2007-2012

- 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000 7,000

Educators

Business and Management

Engineering, Softw are Engineering and Architecture

Computer Science

Medical Professionals

Editors, Writers, Performers

Human, Protective Service Professionals

Research, Scientists, Technical

Administrative, Clerical, Legal

Agriculture, Construction, Production, Transportation

Sales and Service

Entry Preparation Level Ultimate Preparation Level


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Graduates Prepared Fill Annual Openings

Education Supply and Demand2004 Supply of Workers with BA or higher, and Employer Demand

- 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000 7,000 8,000

Educators

Business and managment

Engineering/software enginr/architecture

Computer science

Medical professionals

Editors/writers/performers

Human/protective service professionals

Research, scientists, technical

Administrative/clerical/legal

Agriculture, Construction, Production, Transportation

Sales and Service

2004 Supply (BA+)

Demand BA+ (BLS) 2007-2012

Demand BA+ (Census 2') 2007-2012


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Community Demand

• All fields are becoming more complex and require workers prepared with higher levels of education than in the past

• Ideally, workers would develop a mix of technical skills and management, communication, and team work skills

• Key economic sectors: value-added agriculture, wood products, technology, health care, aerospace, tourism, biotechnology, and marine services

• Upcoming retirement of skilled workers is a special concern in government, education, health care and engineering


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Recommendations

• The public colleges and universities must grow to accommodate additional student demand resulting from population pressure.

• The state does not produce enough graduates in a number of key occupational areas, especially computer science, engineering, software engineering, architecture and health care

• The healthcare industry faces critical shortages of qualified workers in a number of occupational areas, especially nursing


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Recommendations

• There is a significant mismatch between supply and demand for trained workers in several fields

• Participation rates in public higher education in a number of regions fall well below the state average

• Data systems and collection methods should be improved to ensure the needs assessment can effectively guide the growth of the state higher education system


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Thank You

Randy SpauldingHigher Education Coordinating Board

[email protected]

http://www.hecb.wa.gov/boardmtgs/Sept22-05Meeting.asp

mailto:[email protected]


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Documents

WASHINGTON HIGHER EDUCATION COORDINATING BOARD 1 Washington State & Regional Needs Assessment Pacific Northwest Association for Institutional Research