Aligning UA’s Strategy with the Priorities of the USO

Aligning UA’s Strategywith the Priorities of the USO Presented to the The University of AkronBoard of Trustees Dec. 4, 2008 by Dr. Luis Proenza President Dr. Elizabeth Stroble Senior Vice President and Provostand Chief Operating Officer

Provide context and background. Review UA projections for the 24 state measurements set by the University System of Ohio (USO) Discuss rationale behind the projections. Today’s Agenda

Context and Background The state’s Strategic Plan for Higher Education: • sets ambitious goals for the University System of Ohio, and • quantifies these goals with 24 measurements to be accomplished by 2018. • Chancellor has asked Ohio’s public universities to determine how each will contribute to the 24 measurements.

ACCESS Total enrollment Associate, bachelor’s, graduate degrees awarded Total STEMM degrees Enrollees age 25 or older Degrees: First generation college Percentage of degrees conferred to African-Americans and Hispanics QUALITY Improved graduation rate Enrollees in top 20% ACT/SAT Facility conditions Size of endowments Federally financed research spending The University System of Ohio Metrics ECONOMIC LEADERSHIP • Industrially financed research • Ohio students who study abroad • Int’l students who study here • Invention disclosures/start-ups • Business satisfaction • Internships and co-ops AFFORDABILITY AND EFFICIENCY • Average cost • Tuition and fees • State funding per FTE • Early college credit earned • Credit from community college

How Did We Arrive at Our Projections? CONTINUED Establishedstrengths Historicalmission The University of Akron’s strategic vision and intent is to be recognized by the general public as the public research university for Northern Ohio… the university devoted to the education and success of its students and to the production, integration and dissemination of knowledge for the public good. Goals set by the BOT in 1999: Gain recognition as a Carnegie Teaching Academy Gain recognition as a Research II university ($15 million in federal research expenditures) Implement $200 million New Landscape for Learning

How Did We Arrive at Our Projections? 10 yearsof strategic thinking Strategic differentiation CONTINUED Strategic goals proposed during the 2009 State of the University Address: $200 million in sponsored research Recognition in distinctive technologies Top 10% in Ph.D. production in the chemical sciences. Nationally distinguished technology transfer and commercialization enterprise Regional economic driver Enriched and engaged undergraduate curriculum Charting the Course, 1999 Design for Our Future, 2005-06 Academic Alignment Project, 2007-08 Overarching goal: Provide competitive and innovative “Access to Excellence” educational, co-operative and cultural experiences.

How Did We Arrive at Our Projections? Projections External trends Initiatives under way • Include the following: • To enhance enrollment and student profile: • Enrollment Road Map • Inclusive Excellence Road Map • Honors College • New Landscape for Learning initiative • To enhance retention: • First Year Experience • Provisional admits to Summit College • To enhance student success: • Honors College • Learning communities and similar programs Number of high school graduates will crest in 2009 and decline slowly over the next six years. The economy can affect students, donors and research sponsors. Adult students (age 25 and older) are turning to higher education in greater numbers.

About Our Projections The recommendations and projections that follow are based on historic trends, current realities and initiatives under way at UA. Future changes to the University System of Ohio are likely to alter our projections. State policy decisions about tuition will change the landscape for Ohio and UA. Some of the measurements are contradictory and interactive; success in one could hinder progress in others. Our projections represent stretch goals, but they are not unreasonable.

In Summary: YELLOW: We expect to meet 50% to 75% of the USO goal • Associate degrees • Total STEMM degrees • Degrees awarded to first-generation students • % degrees awarded to Black and Hispanic students • Early college credit earned • Credit from community college GREEN: We are very close to or meeting the USO goal • Bachelor’s degrees • Graduate degrees • Total post-secondary enrollment • Enrollees in top 20% ACT/SAT • Size of endowments • Students engaged in internships & co-ops RED: We expect to meet less than 50% of the USO goal • Total enrollees age 25 and older • Facility conditions • Ohio students who study abroad • Int’l students who study here • Improvement in graduation rate No goal defined by state yet • Average cost • Tuition and fees • Invention disclosures/start-ups • Business satisfaction • Federal research spending • Industrially financed spending

Projections ACCESS: Total postsecondary enrollment Goal if UA is to meet its share of USO target UA historical data to baseline (2006) UA projection based on trends and initiatives

Rationale for Projection ACCESS: Total postsecondary enrollment • From 2006 to today, UA has experienced annual increases in enrollment of 5% • Enrollment Management’s three-year enrollment projection model includes: • Growth in new freshmen and new transfer students based on internal and external trends • Increases in graduate student enrollment • Further improvement in student retention • Spring and summer enrollment changes • Graduation patterns • UA’s projection: • We believe we can achieve or possibly even exceed the USO goal.

Projections ACCESS: Total associate degrees awarded Goal if UA is to meet its share of USO target UA historical data to baseline (2006-07) UA projection based on trends and initiatives

Rationale for Projection ACCESS: Associate degrees awarded • FACTS: • Enrollment for two-year programs: • Summit College up 8% from 2003 to 2008; • Wayne College steady at about 750 per year • First year retention rates for students in two-year programs has steadily increased from 50% for the 2000 cohort to 61% for the 2007 cohort of students enrolled in 2-year programs. • It is unknown what the impact will be of a possible state-wide tuition cap on associate degree programs. We could anticipate increased enrollment from Summit County residents that might otherwise attend Tri-C or Stark State. • RATIONALE: • We expect to increase the number of associate degrees awarded during the USO projection time period and contribute to the state’s desired increase; however, it is unlikely we can meet the USO goal of a 32.5% increase.

Projections ACCESS: Total bachelor’s degrees awarded

Rationale for Projection ACCESS: Bachelor degrees awarded • FACTS: • Total enrollment of bachelor’s degree-seeking students has increased 8% from 2002 to 2008 (16,959 to 18,295) while the increase in new bachelor’s degree-seeking students has increased 33% over the same time period (2,882 to 3,826). • First-year retention rates for bachelor’s degree-seeking students are also increasing (65.5% in 2003 to 68.8% for the 2007 cohort). • RATIONALE: • We anticipate a continued decline in the number of bachelor’s degrees awarded to traditional-age students over the next several years, compared to previous years as a result of the steady decline in undergraduate enrollment during the late ‘90’s and early 2000’s. • In summary, we expect to increase the number of bachelor’s degrees awarded during the USO projection time period and contribute to the state’s desired increase.

Projections ACCESS: Total graduate and law degrees awarded Goal if UA is to meet its share of USO target UA historical data to baseline (2006-07) UA projection based on trends and initiatives

Rationale for Projection ACCESS: Graduate and law degrees awarded • FACTS: • The number of graduate degrees awarded from 2006-07 to 07-08 increased 12.5%. • Graduate enrollment increased 5% from 2006 to 2007 and 9% from 2007 to 2008. We anticipate that graduate enrollment will increase, particularly in STEMM areas in the coming years, although perhaps not at the same rate as the past two years. • RATIONALE: • The ratio of graduate enrollment to the number of degrees awarded has remained fairly constant, which is why we are not projecting a significant increase in the actual numbers of graduate degrees awarded during the projection time period. • We expect to increase the number of graduate degrees awarded above the baseline during the USO projection time period.

Projection STEMM degrees offered at UA (2006-07): (STEMM = Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine) • Engineering (224 degrees) • Biomedical Engineering • Chemical Engineering • Civil Engineering • Computer Engineering • Electrical Engineering • Mechanical Engineering • Engineering - Applied Math • Polymer Science (33) • Polymer Engineering • Polymer Science • Summit College (278) • Engineering Technology programs • Computer Tech programs • Allied Health programs • College of Nursing (293) • Nursing • Master of Public Health • College of Education (15) • Sport & Exercise Science • College of Arts & Sciences (202) • Natural Sciences - BS / MD • Computer Science • Geography and Urban Planning • Biology • Chemistry • Geology • Mathematics • Physics • Statistics The state has defined what programs qualify as STEMM.

Projection ACCESS: Total STEMM degrees awarded (STEMM = Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine) Goal if UA is to meet its share of USO target UA historical data to baseline (2006-07) UA projection based on trends and initiatives

Rationale for Projection ACCESS: Total STEMM degrees awarded (STEMM = Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine) • FACTS: • UA enrollment in STEMM programs, 2004-08: • Overall increase of 21% (6,305 to 7,620) • Undergraduate increase of nearly 25% (5,319 to 6,628) • Both retention rates and graduation rates are higher for students in STEMM programs: • First-year retention rates for bachelor’s degree-seeking students is about 68%, compared to 74% for STEMM bachelor’s degree-seeking students. • The six-year graduation rate for bachelor’s degree-seeking students is approximately 35% compared to 40% for STEMM students. • RATIONALE: • Based on student demographics and trends, we cannot meet the USO goal; however, we believe we can increase the number of total STEMM degrees by 32% over the projected time period.

Projections ACCESS: Enrollees age 25 and older Goal if UA is to meet its share of USO target UA historical data to baseline (2006) UA projection based on trends and initiatives

Rationale for Projections ACCESS: Enrollees age 25 and older • FACTS: • From 2004 to 2008, UA experienced an 8.4% decline in the number of enrollees age 25 or older. • In fall 2008, we experienced a 12.6% increase in new undergraduate adult students – first increase in seven years. • RATIONALE: • Beginning fall 2009, we expect to have a plan in place to optimize the schedule of classes that will allow for more evening- and weekend-enrollment opportunities. • We will expand off-site programs, enhance services to veterans and open a new degree-completion program to serve adult students. • These changes, plus expanded adult-recruitment efforts and national trends will allow UA to further increase the number of adult students that it serves, yet it is unlikely that we will be able to increase adult enrollment by 63 percent to meet the USO goal.

Projections ACCESS: Undergraduate degrees to first-generation students Goal if UA is to meet its share of USO target UA projection based on trends and initiatives No UA historical data is available

Rationale for Projections ACCESS: Undergraduate degrees to first-generation students • FACTS: • We are estimating the number of degrees awarded to first-generation college students based on the estimated projection of associate degrees and bachelor’s degrees awarded • In addition, the Early College High School is specifically designed for first-generation students, along with other high school outreach and pre-college programs.

Projections ACCESS: Percent of total degrees awarded to Black and Hispanic students Goal if UA is to meet its share of USO target UA historical data to baseline (2006-07) UA projection based on trends and initiatives

Rationale for Projections ACCESS: Percent of total degrees awarded to Black and Hispanic students • FACTS: • At UA, the percentage of degrees awarded to Black and Hispanic students has declined over last five years. • Percentage of minority students at UA has declined from 14.2% in 2001 down to 12.6% in 2008. • In response, UA is developing an Inclusive Excellence road map that includes initiatives to increase the enrollment, retention and graduation of minority students. • RATIONALE: • Students expected to graduate within the next six years are, for the most part, already enrolled at UA. • Based on the current student demographics and past trends, we are likely to fall short of the USO goal; however, we believe that we can maintain our present rate of 9% and increase that rate in outer years.

Rationale for Projections QUALITY: Improvement in actual graduation rate over expected rate • FACTS AND RATIONALE: • Historically, UA graduation rate is about 35 percent, on par with urban-serving universities nationwide. • With the USO measurement, we receive credit for students who start at UA but finish at another Ohio public, thus the 37% rate for 2008 • Because we are showing improved retention rates within several student classifications, we believe our graduation rate will increase in outer years.

Projections QUALITY: Number of first-time enrollees in the top 20% SAT/ACT Goal if UA is to meet its share of USO target UA historical data up to baseline (2007) UA projection based on trends and initiatives Honors Complexdedicated

Rationale for Projections QUALITY: Number of first-time enrollees in the top 20% SAT/ACT • FACTS: • The number of first-time enrollees in the top 20% SAT/ACT has grown 92% from 2002 to 2008 • This number will continue to increase based on the following factors: • Growth in the number of new first-time students • Strength of Honors College • Recruitment efforts • Focus on STEMM program growth • Reallocation of current scholarship resources • Additional scholarship resources would accelerate our increase -- a rate that is reflected by the UA historical-line projection • RATIONALE: • We expect to increase the number of students in the 20% ACT and exceed the USO projection by 2013-14, thus contributing to the state’s desired increase.

Projections QUALITY: Percent of facilities in satisfactory condition or needing only minor rehabilitation Satisfactory: Suitable for continued use with normal maintenance. Minor Rehabilitation: Needs minor physical rehabilitation or repair. The approximate cost of physical rehabilitation is less than 25 percent of the replacement value of the structure. Rehabilitation: Rehabilitation would cost 25 percent to 50 percent of the replacement value. Major Rehabilitation: Cost of rehabilitation is 50 percent or more of the replacement value. Physically Obsolete: Physically inadequate and not feasible to renovate. The structure should be evaluated for demolition. Evaluation includes building systems (HVAC, electrical, plumbing, etc.) as well as safety issues and federal regulations (ADA, OSHA, etc.).

Projections QUALITY: Percent of facilities in satisfactory condition or needing only minor rehabilitation

Projections QUALITY: Total size of endowment and foundations per FTE (annual) DOLLAR AMOUNT IN THOUSANDS

Rationale for Projections QUALITY: Total size of endowment and foundations per FTE (annual) • FACTS AND RATIONALE: • In the past year, endowment dollars per FTE decreased due to: • investment performance and • student credit hour increases that outpaced record fund-raising, and • modest endowment growth. • We predict a second year of reduction in endowment value per FTE because of: • the effect of the economic downturn on the market value of endowments, and • the continued success in recruitment and retention. • Our projections reflect an intent to continue growing both external funding and FTE enrollment aggressively, while acknowledging that market returns have been weak in recent history and are increasingly unpredictable. • With all three factors (a leveling off of enrollment growth, continued record growth in fund raising and a return to strong investment yields in 2009), we believe we can meet or exceed statewide percentage increase set by USO for 2014.

Projections QUALITY: Federally financed research spending (annual)

Rationale for Projections QUALITY: Federally financed research spending (annual) • FACTS AND RATIONALE: • The state has yet to set a system-wide goal. • Based on UA’s strategic directions, and assuming that (most) new faculty hires are in STEMM areas. • Start-up packages and lab facilities will impact this measure.

Projections ECONOMIC LEADERSHIP: Percentage of bachelor's degree recipients with at least one year of credit from a community college Goal if UA is to meet its share of USO target UA projection based on trends and initiatives No UA historical data is available.

Rationale for Projections ECONOMIC LEADERSHIP: Percentage of bachelor's degree recipients with at least one year of credit from a community college • FACTS • UA was the first state university to partner with Lorain County Community College in the late 1990s to establish LCCC’s University Partnership Program where UA delivers bachelor’s degrees to LCCC campus. Three UA colleges deliver bachelor’s degrees onto LCCC campus. • In 2002, UA began delivering bachelor’s degrees to other community college campuses throughout the state. UA also delivers courses into regional high schools. • UA has arranged for community colleges and four-year degree-granting colleges to deliver academic programs at UA’s Wayne campus and at the Medina County University Center. • Innovation Alliance and Midpoint campus support this goal. • RATIONALE: • We will contribute to the state’s goal of increasing the number of bachelor’s degree recipients with at least one year of credit from a community college.

Projections ECONOMIC LEADERSHIP: Industrially financed research spending (annual) UA projection based on trends and initiatives UA historical data No USO goals have been defined

Rationale for Projections ECONOMIC LEADERSHIP: Industrially financed research spending (annual) • FACTS AND RATIONALE: • The state has yet to set a system-wide goal. • Based on UA’s strategic directions, and assuming that (most) new faculty hires are in STEMM areas. • Available start-up packages and lab facilities will impact this measure.

Projections ECONOMIC LEADERSHIP: Enrollment of international students Goal if UA is to meet its share of USO target UA historical data up to baseline (2006) UA projection based on trends and initiatives

Rationale for Projections ECONOMIC LEADERSHIP: Enrollment of international students RATIONALE: UA’s increase in international students will be based, in part, on increased STEMM enrollment and such initiatives as the Confucius Institute.

Projections ECONOMIC LEADERSHIP: Ohio students studying abroad annually Goal if UA is to meet its share of USO target UA historical data up to baseline (2006-07) UA projection based on trends and initiatives

Rationale for Projections ECONOMIC LEADERSHIP: Ohio students studying abroad annually RATIONALE: We project that our growth will be limited, based on capacity issues and historical trends.

Projections ECONOMIC LEADERSHIP: Knowledge transfer measurement ECONOMIC LEADERSHIP: Business satisfaction The USO has not yet defined goals for either of these measurements.

Projections ECONOMIC LEADERSHIP: Students engaged in internships and co-ops Goal if UA is to meet its share of USO target UA historical data up to baseline (2006-07) UA projection based on trends and initiatives

Rationale for Projections ECONOMIC LEADERSHIP: Students engaged in internships and co-ops • FACTS: • The number of students participating in co-ops and internships at UA has increased 30% from 2003-04 to 2007-08. • About 80 percent of engineering students participate in a co-op experience as part of their undergraduate curriculum, and the number of undergraduate engineering students has also increased 30% during the last five years. • Based on a 2008 survey, all of UA’s colleges have internship, co-op or similar clinical experiences, with 84% of UA students participating. Many of UA’s colleges utilize co-ops as a capstone course. • UA awarded largest Choose Ohio First grant in first round of competition--helps to fund coops/internships • RATIONALE: • UA is very close to meeting its share of the USO goal today. We believe we can meet the 2013 goal.

Aligning UA’s Strategy with the Priorities of the USO