The Superior Innovation Initiative: Request for Proposals Big Pitch Application Form - August 28, 2015

Transcription

1 Instructions The Superior Innovation Initiative: Request for Proposals Big Pitch Application Form - August 28, Complete this application for the Superior Innovation Initiative. 2. Please review your submission with your department chair or supervisor and obtain signature indicating review. 3. Send electronically your submission to Provost Faith Hensrud (provost@uwsuper.edu) by October 1,2015. Your proposal must include: project title and project plan, budget narrative, project timeline, and proposed budget form. The Superior Innovation Initiative Project Proposal Project Title: Pre-Engineering Associate's Degree Project Leader: Peter Cook Project Leader ocook2rm.uwsuoer.edu Project Leader Phone: Unit/Program/Department: Mathematics and Computer Science, Natural Science - Physics Other Project Team Sergei Bezrukov, sb@mcs.uwsuper.edu, Members: Laura Jacobs, ljacobs@uwsuper.edu, Include , phone Heather Kahler, hkahler@uwsuper.edu, Steve Rosenberg, srosenberm.uwsuoer.edu, Please address the following topics in your proposal (500 word maximum) a. Provide a brief description of the project proposal and emphasize why it is innovative. We propose to create a well-packaged, straightforward, and attractive pre-engineering program. This requires work on three fronts: 1. Curriculum: We propose creating a two-year Associates of Science degree that will satisfy UW system's requirements for general education and give students the necessary math and science background to pursue engineering at a future institution. The courses will be selected from existing UWS offerings that satisfy requirements at various engineering schools and MnSCU general education. However even if System denies us the degree, we are still in a position to seek articulation agreements, improve student advisement, and market a relevant package of courses to attract a new population of students. 2. Relationship: We propose developing relationships with several engineering schools so as to create an easy transfer process for our students and ensure that they are well-equipped to succeed at the receiving institution. This work will 1

2 assist in our advising and manifest itself in the form of articulation agreements (when possible) and transfer guides on our website. 3. Marketing: We already attract some pre-engineering students. However, the lack of information on our website and catalog deters students from even considering UWS. We can grow this population. We need to market a straightforward path to become an engineer by spending two years in our costeffective and high-attention classes to acquire the math and science skills they need along with a smooth transfer process into a couple of engineering schools. This will draw a new population of students into UWS. Consulting with marketing staff we identified that we should: Update the website, including practical transfer information Create fact-sheets Get pre-engineering back into the catalog Do a one-time, targeted social media marketing push to boost an initial crop of students. a. How will this proposal increase student enrollment (recruitment/retention) or increase campus revenue? Our goal is to attract additional students per year who stay for at least two years. This number is based on the 20 students/year that pursued the past dual degree engineering program from (see \\goldeye\deptdata\mathematics & Computer Science\Mathematics & Computer Science Data Set 20l4-15.docx). Engineering is a high demand field from both high school graduates and employers. In the early part of this decade the College Board reported that engineering was in the top 10 majors reported by ACT students. 1 Similarly, engineering increased by 14% on the SAT first choice major selection. The Job Outlook 2013 published by the National Association of Colleges and Employers reports that "Business, engineering, and computer science degrees are most sought after at both the bachelor's and master's degree levels" and "Engineering graduates are also the most sought after graduates at the associate degree level" (emphasis added). b. When do you think you can reasonably launch this initiative? This project is already in process. We intend to submit the Associate's degree to UWS governance this Fall, to System in Spring 2016, and have it in place starting Fall College Board. (2015). "Major: Engineering, General": Hottest Careers for College Graduates: for-college-grad uates 2

3 c. How soon can the university see increases in enrollment or revenue? With a new degree in place and the marketing preparation in Spring 2016, we expect increases in enrollment for Fall Budget Narrative (limit to 250 words). Define the budget amount (in dollars) needed to complete the work you are proposing (budget details to be provided in the "Proposed Budget" area below). If you do not require funding, do not submit a budget. You will need to submit your project timeline. The principle financial investment ($4140) is to give a faculty member the necessary course release time in Spring 2016 to do the relationship and marketing pieces of this project. Primary tasks will be to shepherd the Associate's degree into existence, initiate strategic articulation agreements, generate advising materials so that students have a clear and easy transfer process, generate content for the website, oversee the creating of fact-sheets, and update the course catalog. Travel expenses ($1000) are included in the event that it is expedient to send a faculty member to an institution to, for example, push forward an articulation agreement. We request $500 for a one-time, targeted social media advertising campaign to jump-start this project (e.g. Facebook). We want a reasonably sized initial cohort of students. We will spend this money once we have the Associate's degree in place or an alternate clear and coherent package to offer students. Project Plan: In order to evaluate proposals in a fair and equitable manner, please write your plan according to the following guidelines: Project Timeline: (Prepare a timeline for project not to exceed time frame) Be SMART about the Project Plan and Project Timeline. Specific: Measurable: Achievable: Realistic: Your objectives must be clear so that if someone reads them, s/he can interpret them. Is the objective measurable? Is the project objective reasonably achievable? Are the available resources sufficient to achieve the objective(s)? 3

4 Time-Specific: Specify when an objective will be attained (date/timeline). Set specific milestone dates. Due Date Objective November 2 nd, 2015 Associate's Degree approved by Department of Mathematics and Computer Science and Department of Natural Sciences. December 8 th, 2015 December 16 th, 2015 Proposed degree submitted to UAAC. Proposed degree submitted to Faculty Senate and Chancellor. January 30 th, 2016 Proposed degree submitted to UW System. Spring 2016 Develop relationships with pertinent universities such as UW- Madison, UW-Platteville and UM-Duluth. Goal is to initiate (course release time) articulation agreements or otherwise do what is necessary to smooth the transfer process of our students into their programs. This may require travel. April 1,2016 (course release time) Marketing materials in place (website, factsheets, proposed catalog changes, and transfer guides). Pending System Inclusion of Associate's degree in catalog. Approval for degree Pending System Approval for degree or articulation agreement One-time social media marketing push. Note: Approvals document located at: Approval of Under grad Academic Matter (curr chart) DRAFT under "AP1l17 4

5 Proposed Budget: Item Description (person or item) "Hours and Rate" (if labor) or "Purchase Cost"(if non-labor) Line Total 1 Course Release Spring 2016 to 3 credit course release $4140 execute the relationship and (obtained from Jeff Kahler 9/1/15) marketing portions of the project 2 If needed, travel to pertinent 654 miles round trip- Madison $1000 institutions. 657 miles round trip - Platteville $82/night hotel rate Meal per diem Mileage rate per System rules 3 One-time targeted social media $500 $500 advertising push to attract an initial (as advised by Leah Kohlts) group of students Total Reuuest: $5640 $ Total Matching funds: $0 5

6 Check which of the following might apply (check all that apply): X This project requires System review and approval. X This project requires campus governance review and approval. X This project requires departmental review and approval. Print Name Signature Submit project applications by 4:30 p.m, on October 1, 2015 to provost@uwsuper.edu 6