State University System Florida Board of Governors Request to Establish Market Tuition Rates Regulation 7.001(15)

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1 University: University of South Florida Proposed Market Tuition Program: Master s of Science in Cyber Security University Board of Trustees approval date: Date Proposed Implementation Date (month/year): Fall 2014 Graduate online or Graduate Continuing Ed. Course: Graduate Online CIP Code: Description of the Program and the Market Tuition Rate Process Describe the program and explain the process used to determine market tuition. In 2010, the federal government s Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative acknowledged that cyber security is one of the most serious economic and security challenges we face as a nation. Meeting the challenge, the report said, will require developing a technologically-skilled and cyber-savvy workforce and an effective pipeline of future employees. 1 Currently, very few graduate level programs that focus in cyber security exist in our nation s universities, and even fewer are available online. The University of South Florida is committed to creating academic and research programs that will meet the educational needs of technology professionals in our state and nation to face the everincreasing threats in cyber security. Large and small companies, government entities and private individuals are all subject to the insidious harm inflicted by information security breaches, and hundreds of billions of dollars are at stake. 2 There are currently not enough cyber security specialists to meet the growing workforce demands in the field. Computerworld noted in a 2013 report that Demand for cyber security professionals over the past five years grew 3.5 times faster than demand for other IT jobs and about 12 times faster than for all jobs. 3 To enable USF to address the need for more cyber security professionals in Florida and around the world, the USF Tampa BOG approved Work Plan includes a new academic program under consideration: Master s of Science in Cyber Security. Pending the approval of this new academic program by USF s Board of Trustees, we will create a fully online MS in Cyber Security to help meet the rising demand for advanced education in this field from working professionals who would not otherwise be able to attend on-campus classes. The 30 credit hour online program will include an interdisciplinary approach, utilizing faculty research and expertise from four of USF s colleges. Graduate Certificates embedded in

2 the program will include concentrations in Cyber Operations (CO), Cyber Intelligence (CI), and Information Assurance (IA). Students will take a core set of courses, and can choose from a large variety of electives to achieve their personal and professional goals. A proposed competitive market tuition rate of $900 per credit hour was determined by analyzing factors including competition, reputation, brand identity, and delivery format. The College of Business worked in conjunction with University College to conduct a detailed market analysis to determine the appropriate competitive tuition rate and the program s market viability. 1 The Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative, Nation Security Council, The White House (nd). p. 1, 4. 2 Corrin, Amber. Tracking the Cost of Cyber Crime, FCW: The Business of Federal Technology, July 23, Vijayan, Jaikumar, Demand for IT Security Experts Outstrips Supply, Computerworld, March 7, Mission Alignment Describe how offering the proposed program at market tuition aligns with the mission of the university and the Board strategic plan: The online MS in Cyber Security fully aligns with the University of South s Florida s approved Strategic Plan. USF Goal 1: Well-educated and highly skilled global citizens through our continuing commitment to student success USF is well positioned to serve working professionals both in Florida and globally, as the premier cyber security education provider. Online access provides student success for working professionals who would otherwise be unable to attend on-campus sessions. USF Goal 2: High-impact research and innovation to change lives, improve health and foster sustainable development and positive societal change Students will come from a variety of companies which could likely serve as data collection sites for research and case writing, and there is a strong potential for faculty members to showcase research at student companies. Society will benefit from well-qualified cyber security professionals across all segments of industry. The online program will serve as an anchor in USF s efforts to secure NSA accreditation as a center for academic excellence (Research) in Information Assurance. USF Goal 3: A highly effective, major economic engine, creating new partnerships to build a strong and sustainable future for Florida in the global economy The online program will train members of the workforce in Florida and Tampa Bay on

3 emerging technologies and security issues to protect our region s businesses and individuals. The course of study in an accessible format will provide students with the necessary skills to compete for new jobs in the 21 st century s knowledge based economy. The online program will contribute to Tampa Bay s reputation and impact as part of the Florida High Tech Corridor. USF Goal 4: Sound financial management to establish a strong and sustainable economic base in support of USF s continued academic advancement The online degree will create annual revenue to support the development and delivery of the program. Residual revenue generated will be used to enhance the graduate programs at USF by hiring additional high-caliber graduate faculty, providing assistantships and scholarships, investing in state-of-the-art technologies, and recruiting exceptional outof-state and international students to help contribute to the educational experiences for Florida residents. The online MS in Cyber Security closely aligns with the 2025 points of emphasis including Excellence, Productivity, and Strategic Priorities for a Knowledge Economy, which inform the Goals as laid out in the Strategic Plan. Teaching and Learning Research and teaching will be drawn from 6 departments across 4 colleges within USF to create an outstanding learning experience for online students, and which will delve into the many facets of cyber security. The proposed online market tuition program increases the access to the MS in Cyber Security program for working professionals and others who are unable to attend the existing on-campus MS in Cyber Security program at USF due to distance or time constraints. The proposed program is therefore likely to increase the production of this vital degree granted by USF. Scholarship, Research, Innovation The proposed online MS in Cyber Security program is an interdisciplinary program. One of the departments that will contribute courses, Information Systems & Decision Sciences, was ranked #25 in the nation for undergraduate programs in the discipline by BusinessWeek in 2013 and #32 in the world for publication in premier journals (Management Information Systems Quarterly and Information Systems Research) during the last five years: ( The USF College of Engineering, which will also offer courses in the program, is a nationally ranked college, as assessed by US News & World Report. Another course contributing entity, the School of Information in the College of Arts and Sciences, has expertise in cyber-intelligence, while the Department of Criminology at USF, another department contributing content to the degree, is ranked in the top 10 of

4 Criminal Justice/ Criminology Ph.D. programs in the nation by the Chronicle of Higher Education. The proposed online program in Cyber Security will further increase the visibility and global footprint of the USF Colleges participating in this program, thereby further increasing the reputation of USF. The resources generated from this program will be used to enhance the research capacity of the participating colleges. Increased visibility of the USF program and brand will attract even higher quality graduate students to enroll in our doctoral programs, leading to higher quality research output. Community and Business Engagement USF will continue to fulfill its institutional responsibilities by embracing opportunities such as the BOG market tuition program to generate greater access to graduate education. By providing online access to the MS in Cyber Security program, USF is providing educational and career advancement opportunities throughout the state of Florida and beyond. The proliferation of this program potentially leads to economic investments in the state of Florida by resident and non-resident individuals and businesses. The reputation of the program and the USF brand will lead to increasing levels of community and business engagement and the ability to strengthen USF s ties to and contributions to the military information security initiatives at MacDill Air Force Base, home to both the US Central Command (CENTCOM) and US Special Operations Command (SOCOM). Declaratory Statement Provide a declaratory statement that the policy will not increase the state s fiscal liability or obligation and that the Market Tuition Rate program cohorts will not supplant an existing E&G funded degree program in the same discipline: USF s market rate policy will not result in an increase in the state s fiscal liability or obligation. If approved, the online MS in Cyber Security and the on-campus E&G program will remain completely separate, as students will apply and be accepted into one or the other. This online program will not cannibalize any existing graduate program since it is targeted towards students beyond the boundaries of Tampa Bay, including out of state and international students, as well as any individuals who are unable to attend a face to face and on-campus programs. Restrictions / Limitations Identify any proposed restrictions, limitations, or conditions to be placed on the policy: Program pricing will be determined by market forces that may result in an increase or decrease in price. Per the BOG requirement, pricing will not be increased by more than 15% per year.

5 Accountability Measures Indicate how the university will monitor the success of the policy. Provide specific metrics that will be used. USF continuously reviews all of its academic programs with respect to student learning outcomes and other quality indicators. Annual assessment plans with expected learning outcomes are maintained for all degree programs and in-depth reviews are conducted at least once every seven years. The success metrics for the proposed online MS in Cyber Security market tuition program also include: Student Enrollment: Student enrollment is expected to launch at 15 students, and with appropriate market outreach, will grow year over year. The program has the ability to attract students in Florida, the nation and globally, and the program is expected to attract 100 students per cohort by year 5. Student Quality: Students admitted in the online program will be expected to meet the same rigorous standards for admission into the college s on-campus programs. Student qualification for the program will be determined by GRE/GMAT scores, GPAs, and previous work experience. Student Placement: We will survey students upon receipt of the MS to identify their success in obtaining employment. Student placement will be monitored in future years as a measurement of success. Student Satisfaction: Students will complete individual evaluations of each course taken, and satisfaction will be assessed from the course evaluations. Additionally, the department will perform a culminating survey upon receipt of the degree to identify student satisfaction with the program and willingness to recommend the program as a measure of success. Course Availability Explain how the university will ensure that sufficient courses are available to meet student demand and facilitate completion of each program submitted for consideration. Will any similar E&G courses be eliminated or scaled back if this program is implemented? The schedule for the program will be finalized well in advance, with faculty resources committed. The online program in Cyber Security will be cohort based with a fixed set of

6 courses that all students would be required to take, and which will be delivered regularly. USF is committed to ensuring the timely delivery of all the courses for the online program. Extraordinary demand would be met by hiring additional faculty using funds accrued by the online program. Economic Impact Provide economic impact that this proposal will have on the university and the student, anticipated revenue collection, how the revenue will be spent, whether any private vendors will be used, and which budget entity the funds will be budgeted. Given the continued challenges with the State of Florida s financial support of public universities, institutions of higher education are exploring alternate sources of funding that are supported by the BOG. One such opportunity is the online MS in Cyber Security market tuition program proposed by USF. USF programs such as the MS in Cyber Security empower students (many of them Florida residents) with skills needed in today s knowledge economy. The continued development and delivery of these programs prepare the workforce with the necessary knowledge and skills that new jobs demand, thereby providing employers with a workforce for very technical jobs and creating opportunities for graduates to advance their careers. The online MS in Cyber Security program will provide students with a new set of skills that are in great demand in today s workplace. Cyber security is a high-paying field, with unparalleled growth fueling need for a larger workforce. According to The 2013 (ISC) 2 Global Information Security Workforce Study, Information security is a stable and growing profession with a demand that outstrips supply of qualified workers: Even with past annual growth in the double-digits, workforce shortages persist. 4 Constant innovation and cutting edge research and continued access to updated training will be required to keep this workforce current and relevant. Thanks to the online MS option, working professionals and individuals disadvantaged by distance and time constraints would have access to a program that will provide many sought-after skills. Estimated revenue for the market tuition MS in Cyber Security program at the end of 5 years is $4 million. A portion of the revenue will be used to support the development and delivery of the program, and the residual revenue generated each year will be used to enhance the graduate programs at USF by hiring additional high-caliber graduate faculty, providing assistantships and scholarships, investing in state-of-the-art technologies, and recruiting exceptional out-of-state and international students to help expand the educational experiences for Florida residents. Private vendors may be utilized. The revenue from the online MS in Cyber Security program

7 will be budgeted in a specific continuing education auxiliary account within University College at USF. 4 The 2013 (ISC) 2 Global Information Security Workforce Study, Frost & Sullivan, pp Other Information Provide any additional information if necessary, and complete the attached supplemental form. Please see the attached supplemental form.