ACADEMIC AFFAIRS COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM: 4.C.1 DATE: May 31, 2012 ****************************************************************************** SUBJECT: New Site Request SDSMT, MS in Construction Management-Online South Dakota School of Mines & Technology requests authorization to offer the M.S. in Construction Management using the Internet. The program was approved in 2008. The new site request provides information about the employment of program graduates. SDSM&T is working with other system universities on the delivery of this program: There will be no negative impact on existing programs, and coordination on electives with the Engineering Management program at SDSM&T and the Construction Management program at SDSU will result in larger enrollments in some already offered online courses. The 12 hours of electives are provided via distance by the SDSM&T Engineering Management program, and coordination is underway with the SDSU Construction Management program to develop a pool of 500-level elective courses that will be available online. Additionally, students will also be encouraged to take appropriate management and leadership electives from any regental university. The ability to advertise and promote an approved distance program in conjunction with other regental institutions is projected to double the size of the program in the next 3 5 years. Delivery will be funded with donated resources and self-support tuition revenue. SDSM&T does not request new State resources. Offering the M.S. in Construction Management using the Internet supports the system strategic goals (Board Policy 1:21) and will provide professional development for construction industry employees who are unable to attend classes on campus. ****************************************************************************** RECOMMENDED ACTION Provide comments to Paul G for inclusion in the COPS item.
South Dakota Board of Regents New Site: Request to Offer an Existing Degree Program University South Dakota School of Mines & Technology Degree(s) and Program M.S. in Construction Management (MSCM) New Site(s) Online Delivery (Internet) Proposed Implementation (term) Fall 2012 University Approval To the Board and the Executive Director: I certify that I have read this request, that I believe it to be accurate, and that it has been evaluated and approved as provided by university policy. President of the University Date After approval by the President, a signed copy of the proposal should be transmitted to the Executive Director. Only after Executive Director review should the proposal be posted on the university web site and the Board staff and the other universities notified of the URL. 1. What is the need for this program in this site (these sites)? What is the expected demand for graduates in the site(s)? The South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (SDSM&T) requests authorization to offer the Masters of Science in Construction Management (MSCM) degree online. This request is in response to market demands. The online format will serve B.S. graduates in engineering fields who want to enter the workplace while continuing to advance their skills, employees at remote sites looking to advance their careers, and students who prefer to take online courses rather than commute long distances. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.bls.gov) predicts a faster than average job growth (i.e., 17%) for the construction management profession and estimates that, between 2008 and 2018, there will be more job openings than applicants. The South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation s projections for fields into which graduates of the M.S. in Construction Management could be hired and projections for field from which those currently employed might enroll in the program for career advancement are summarized below in Table 1.1 below. Table 1.1, South Dakota Industry Employment Projections (2008 2018) Actual Change Industry Title Number of Jobs Percent Change Construction of Buildings 1,185 +21.2% Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction 355 +10.1 Specialty Trade Contractors 1,955 +16.7% Source: Labor Market Information Center, SD Department of Labor and Regulation, April 2012: http://dlr.sd.gov/lmic/menu_projections.aspx#occupations, accessed April 20, 2012.
According to the executive vice president of the American Council for Construction Education, Mike Holland, There has been a continual shortage of graduates coming out of university construction-management and engineering programs for many years, dating to the 1990s. A study in 2000, which was reaffirmed in 2006, showed that educational programs in construction management were providing only about half of the people needed in the industry. 1 To meet industry needs, the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), the leading association for the construction industry, encourages and endorses the development of online advanced degree construction management programs. As of May 2012 and since the Board of Regents approved the M.S. in Construction Management program in October 2008, twelve graduates have been produced by the program. These graduates have gone on to successful careers in the construction industry at the local state, national, and international levels. Almost 50% of the graduates have found careers in South Dakota. Regional companies and businesses that have employed current graduates or are anticipated to employ future graduates are as follows: Heavy Constructors, Rapid City, SD Ellsworth Air Force Base J. Scull Construction, Rapid City, SD Montana Dakota Utilities RCS Construction, Rapid City SD Pennington County SECO Construction, Rapid City, SD South Dakota Department of Transportation Simon Contractors, Rapid City, SD US Forest Service Lastly, Internet delivery of the M.S. in Construction Management supports system strategic goals (Policy 1:21): Academic Quality & Performance: Expand use of technology to enhance learning Economic Development & Quality of Life: Contribute to workforce development & quality of life by offering off-campus and online programs 2. Is any regental university authorized to offer a similar program at the new site(s)? Is any non-system institution offering a similar program at the new site(s)? If either answer is yes, identify the institution(s) and program(s) and explain why authorization is requested. No. 3. Are students expected to be new to the university or redirected from other programs or both? Complete the table and explain how the estimates were developed. How will the new site(s) affect enrollments in other campus and off-campus programs in the regental system? 1 Source: Tennesean, April 1. 2012: http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120401/business01/304010095/constructioncompanies-recruit-trainees-from-other-fields-, accessed April 20, 2012
By FY16, when fully implemented and marketed, the online MSCM program will attract approximately 20 students per year with a steady state program enrollment of approximately 40 students. This conservative estimate is based on trends nationwide. A similar program at Western Carolina University has needed to cap enrollment to a cohort of 30 students per year. All courses in the MSCM program are offered in a flexible hybrid format (HyFlex) in Rapid City with a typical enrollment of 14-17 students. Calculations (below) for continuing students reflect total students the previous year less projected graduates. Time to graduation is assumed to be 2 years or less for 80% of enrollees. Attrition and variation in student course loads are accounted for. The credit hours for majors in program courses is calculated assuming students are able to complete the program in two years, they will need to complete 16 hours per year. Fiscal Years* 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Estimated FY13 FY14 FY15 FY16 New to the university 6 10 15 20 Redirected from other programs 2 2 2 2 Continuing Students 11 10 14 20 = Total in the program 19 22 31 42 Credit hours, majors in program courses** 304 352 496 672 Graduates 9 8 11 16 * Do not include current year. ** This is the total number of credit hours generated by the majors in the required or elective program courses. Impact on Existing Programs There will be no negative impact on existing programs, and coordination on electives with the Engineering Management program at SDSM&T and the Construction Management program at SDSU will result in larger enrollments in some already offered online courses. The 12 hours of electives are provided via distance by the SDSM&T Engineering Management program, and coordination is underway with the SDSU Construction Management program to develop a pool of 500-level elective courses that will be available online. Additionally, students will also be encouraged to take appropriate management and leadership electives from any regental university. The ability to advertise and promote an approved distance program in conjunction with other regental institutions is projected to double the size of the program in the next 3 5 years. 4. Complete the table and explain any special circumstances. Attach a copy of the program as it appears in the current catalog. If any program modifications are requested, attach that form. Explain how the new courses will be delivered. Attach the new course request forms.
Master of Science in Construction Management Credit hours Courses currently available from SDSMT online Courses currently available from other Regental universities online Courses new to this university Major Requirements 15 5 0 0 Major Electives 18 13 4* 0 Total for MSCM 33 0 *Up to 12 hours of transfer credit is allowed. The MSCM curriculum from the 2012-2013 SDSM&T Graduate Catalog is provided as Appendix A. A revision to the curriculum was made in 2012 to expand elective opportunities to include relevant coursework from other Regental universities. 5. How will you provide student services comparable to those available for students on the main campus? SDSM&T is experienced in serving online and off-campus students at the graduate level. In keeping with the model used in delivering the Engineering Management program via distance since 1994, essential student services will be provided by the University and Graduate Education Office. The introduction of the MSCM program distance offerings in 2009 has resulted in increased attention to student services. In the past two years, the MSCM program has successfully served students in ten different states and two countries. Students have access to all necessary resources available to on-campus peers. 6. Is this program accredited by a specialized accrediting body? If so, address any program accreditation issues and costs related to offering the program at the new site(s). None 7. Does the University request any exceptions to Board policy for delivery at the new site(s)? Explain requests for exceptions to Board policy. If no exceptions are requested, enter None. None 8. Costs, Budget & Resources Related to New Courses at the Site: Explain the amount and source(s) of any one-time and continuing investments in personnel, professional development, release time, instructional technology and software, other O&M, facilities, student services, etc needed to implement the program at the new site(s). A site budget is not provided because the courses are already offered for the program on campus. SDSM&T does not request new State resources or new student fees. Funding for Internet delivery will come from self-support tuition and industry support through the Carrington Millard Fund. In March 2007, Judy Carrington and Dick Millard (Civil
Engineering 51) made a $963,000 gift to the SDSM&T Foundation to support the development of the Construction Management program, including the development of the curriculum for online delivery. Since 2007, careful management of the fund has ensured sufficient ongoing support to endow a named professorship. Faculty will be added with self-support tuition revenue as needed.
Appendix A M.S. in Construction Management 2012-2013 Catalog Listing Curriculum The 33 hour non-thesis MSCM degree consists of a program of coursework designed to prepare graduates for professional practice. The interdisciplinary curriculum includes an 15-hour core of construction management oriented courses. Students are encouraged to explore relevant offerings at other institutions to broaden their education. By allowing up to 12 hours of electives from other institutions students can design a program of study to reflect both individual interests and career goals. Required Courses (5 required) CM 608 Construction Contracts CM 610 Construction Project Management CM 619 Construction Company Management CM 665 Construction Equipment Management CM 710 Advanced Construction Management Approved Electives (6 required) SDSMT/SDSU* CM courses available distance CM 500 Risk Management and Construction Safety* CM 560 Sustainable Building Systems Concepts and Analysis* CM 574 Construction Engineering & Mgmt CM 706 Managing Sustainable Construction CM 715 Advanced Materials and Methods SDSMT Engineering Management courses available distance ENGM 620 Quality Management ENGM 625 Innovation and Commercialization ENGM 640 Business Strategy ENGM 650 Safety Management ENGM 661 Engineering Economics for Managers ENGM 655 Ergonomics for Managers ENGM 675 Ethics and Professionalism ENGM 742 Engineering Management & Labor Relations IENG 531 Industrial Hygiene IENG 566 Project Planning and Control Students may use any graduate School of Mines course or transfer course for elective credit provided it is approved by their advisor. A maximum of 12 hours may be transferred from other programs or institutions if approved by advisor.