Brief Description: Establishing technology priorities for institutions of higher education.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Early Learning, K-12 & Higher Education (originally sponsored by Senators Berkey, Schmidt, Shin, Haugen, McAuliffe, Kohl-Welles and Rasmussen).

Hearing Date: 2/17/06

Staff: Jennifer Thornton (786-7111).

Background:

Undergraduate Enrollment and Degree Production
The Office of Financial Management (OFM) collects data on undergraduate enrollment and degrees produced in specific fields on an annual basis. Data from OFM show that in 2003-04, there were 90,074 full-time equivalents (FTEs) at public four-year institutions. Four percent of these students were enrolled in engineering and related technologies, and 3 percent were enrolled in computer science.

Between 1993-94 and 2003-04 there was a 12 percent decline in the number of engineering and related FTEs and an 8.6 percent decline in the number of students receiving engineering and related degrees, with 867 such degrees awarded in 2003-04. During the same time period, there was a nearly 25 percent increase in the number of baccalaureate degrees awarded at public four-year institutions, with a total of 20,456 bachelor's degrees awarded in 2003-04.

Relationship Between Specific Fields of Study and Employer Demand
A recent joint study conducted by the Higher Education Coordinating Board (HECB), the
Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board, and the State Board for Community and
Technical Colleges states that:

"....demand for workers trained at the baccalaureate level and higher in certain occupations is not met by current supply. Matching with the ultimate demand measure, current degree production meets only 67 percent of the need in engineering and 56 percent of the need in computer science....Demands in engineering, software engineering and architecture would best be met through increased enrollments in engineering. Demand in computer science would best be met through increased enrollments in computer and information systems."

Summary of Bill:

The Legislature recognizes that placing a priority on enrolling students and conferring degrees in the fields of engineering, technology, biotechnology, science, computer science, and mathematics is vital to the state's economic prosperity. Therefore, it is the Legislature's intent to promote increased access, delivery models, enrollment slots, and degree opportunities in these fields.

Institutions of higher education shall determine local student demand in these fields and submit findings and proposed alternatives to meet demand to the HECB and the Legislature by November 1, 2008. The HECB must track and report progress in at least the following ways:

• the number of students enrolled in these fields on a biennial basis;
• the number of associate, bachelor's and master's degrees conferred in these fields on a biennial basis;
• expenditures on enrollment and degree programs in these fields; and
• the number and type of public-private partnerships established relating to these fields.

The institutions of higher education have discretion and flexibility in achieving the objectives of increasing enrollments and degrees in these fields. Types of institutional programs include, but are not limited to, establishment of institutes of technology, new polytechnic-based institutions, and new divisions of existing institutions. Examples of delivery models include face-to-face learning, interactive courses, internet-based offerings, and instruction on main campuses, branch campuses, and other educational centers.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.