1. Relocating of all Spokane-based upper-division and graduate course offerings and academic programs offered by public universities in the city of Spokane to the Riverpoint Higher Education Park, using existing and planned structures at the Riverpoint Higher Education Park, except that the nursing courses and programs located in the Intercollegiate Center for Nursing Education (ICNE) facility shall remain at that location.

Current Academic Programs

WSU’s strengths in health care and basic sciences support the development of the health sciences in Spokane. The College of Nursing through ICNE offers both bachelor’s and master’s degrees, and the College of Pharmacy offers the PharmD. Other Spokane health-related teaching and research initiatives complement these two long-standing programs. Faculty in the College of Pharmacy have discussed options that would provide more visibility and accessibility of their programs in Spokane (Appendix B). Most recently, the faculty agreed that they desire to move additional components of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences to Spokane dependent on the availability of teaching and research space and the opportunity to collaborate with other researchers. In the search now being conducted for a dean of Pharmacy, locating of the office of the dean and administration of the College in Spokane will remain an option depending on the outcome of the Health Science Consortium plans. Such a move would locate two health science colleges in Spokane.

The proposal for a Health Sciences Consortium is the result of a long standing academic and health care community vision in Spokane and the surrounding Inland Northwest. It is an effort to support present and future teaching, research and service needs and is based on a mutually developed vision of collaboration among all the regional higher education institutions. Integral to the success of the Health Sciences Consortium is and will be the active participation of the major health care providers of the area.

The proposed Health Sciences Consortium will:

Develop centers/systems of excellence in Spokane in collaboration with the medical centers and health care community.

Improve the quality and scope of existing teaching, research and service programs.

Foster the development of new health science programs in Spokane in response to changing health care needs and developing technologies.

Result in the development of cost effective health science educational programs (programs that are generally considered cost intensive).

Draw students from the region, some of whom currently choose to go elsewhere for their education, as well as attract students nationally and internationally.

Create a foundation for the development of a regional biotechnology industry.

Enhance the reputation of Spokane as a hub and referral center for health care.

Meet the projected needs for additional health care professionals over the next 30 years (e.g., Washington Water Power, Employment Security, and Strategic Alliance Forecasts²).

Play a major role in enhancement of health related research by attracting qualified researchers and significant grant dollars to the area as well as establishing a national and international reputation.

The Health Sciences Consortium will be comprised of autonomous universities, colleges and academic units brought together through a structure that supports planning and coordination of existing and future resources. The Consortium office will be based in the Health Sciences Building on the Riverpoint campus but with elements and activities geographically dispersed throughout the region. All of the area institutions of higher education, as well as the University of Idaho, have agreed to collaborate in this venture which will include participation by the major, as well as many of the smaller, health care agencies in the region. Discussions with representatives from these agencies have taken place and will continue on a regular basis.

The Consortium will be designed in a manner similar to the Intercollegiate Center for Nursing Education which is a nationally recognized model of a successful collaborative educational effort. A Council of Provosts/Academic Vice Presidents that will include representatives from each of the participating educational institutions will govern the Consortium. Washington State University will serve as the coordinating institution.

Functioning under the direction of the Council of Provosts will be a Health Sciences Facilitation Committee that will include the Deans/Chairs of the involved programs of all institutions. Also serving on this Committee will be appointed representatives from the major health care agencies and provider groups of the region. The Facilitation Committee will be chaired by one of its members who will be appointed to that position by the Provost of WSU in consultation with the Council of Provosts. The Committee will solicit ongoing input, advice, and assistance from a Health Professions Advisory Group that will include representation from local health professions' leaders. The Committee also will develop and implement a plan to ascertain the ongoing and changing needs of the health care community relative to services and programs that may be offered or coordinated through the consortium. WSU Spokane will provide facilities, space coordination, and administrative support for the activities that take place on the Riverpoint campus. Funding will be shared by the participating institutions in relation to the services accessed.

A Health Sciences Consortium Administrator will have responsibility for the day to day activities such as management of budgets, space, grants, committees, etc. The Administrator will also have responsibility for and coordinate the activities of the Health Science Core—a group of shared activities and services which will support, and are critical to the success of, the teaching, research and service efforts of the members of the Consortium. The core will include many of the activities presently being conducted by the Health Research and Education Center (HREC). A Scientific and Educational Advisory Committee comprised of representatives of the core activity groups and the educational programs, will provide assistance to the Administrator in facilitating the interactions of the various entities and assuring equitable distribution of resources. Some of the Core activities will be the Institutional Review Board, Clinical Trials, Biostatistics Support, Computing and Information Technology Coordination as well as selective production/distribution of Health Sciences related teaching materials (CD and Video), Grant and Manuscript Writing Support, Continuing Education, and Library Services. Also, selected courses that are needed by a number of disciplines/programs may be taught directly through the Core.

A substantial portion of the Administrator’s efforts will focus on the development of shared academic programs and the facilitation of research, including interdisciplinary studies. This will occur through the Administrator’s continuing interactions with the representatives of participating programs and institutions to assist with planning, sharing of resources (e.g., faculty, core services, facilities, etc.), and implementation of collaborative programs and research efforts.

Within the Consortium there may be a variety of program structures. Examples of potential structures include a two plus two format, with formal articulation agreements or interinstitutional agreements similar to the ICNE model. In this model, the students complete two years of lower division work at one college or university followed by two upper division years at another institution with which agreements for admission, transfer and progression have been established.

Another structure may be a four plus two arrangement where agreements are in place to facilitate student movement from one or more baccalaureate programs (4 years in length) into a specific graduate program (2 years to complete). The offering of joint degrees between institutions or the sharing of classes by students from several universities/colleges, with the participating students receiving their degree from their own institution are additional options. Systematic and shared planning is basic to all these options and will be facilitated by the Consortium, resulting in increased efficiency of material and human resources.

Continuing education is increasing in importance within the health care professions due to the knowledge explosion and the rapidly changing health care environment. The sharing of support services in the provision of workshops and institutes for all members of the health care community will provide a wide range of offerings in a cost-effective manner. The WHETS (Washington Higher Education Telecommunication System), K-20, and EMAN systems that are currently in place and/or being developed throughout the region and the state, have and will continue to increase the distribution capabilities of continuing education to individuals located in rural communities. Video and CD production of instructional resources is one of the educational modalities of the future for all health professions. Production facilities and staff are currently in place in Spokane.

Enhancement of health science research within the region is integral and foundational to the educational efforts as well as critical to the economic development of Spokane. Centralization of support services within the core of the Consortium will be cost effective and facilitate the research efforts. Increased collaboration between the educational institutions and the health care community, as well as interdisciplinary proposals will enhance the potential for attracting increased federal and private research dollars to the area.

Integral to the planning of collaborative educational options and developing of interdisciplinary research proposals are the interactions with the regional health care community. As described, this ongoing interaction is built into the structure of the Consortium but must be continually nurtured by the Administrator as well as by the program directors. Several collaborative program proposals are discussed in Appendix A.

Financial resources supporting the Health Sciences Consortium may come from several sources; however, basic ongoing funding must be assured. Funding of startup costs, salaries of the administrator and staff, as well as key individuals to provide core services, teaching laboratories, and support for upgrading the video/CD production equipment will be necessary for the consortium to be established and to provide broad-based services.

Some of the core activities of the Consortium are already in place through the Health Research and Education Center (HREC); therefore, WSU proposes that this existing HREC funding ($427,000 per biennium) become a part of the budget. Approximately $2M of funding for the biennium would be needed to support the Consortium from state appropriations. Specific educational program expenses are in addition to this amount; however, these costs will be borne by the individual institutions and are somewhat offset by tuition. Estimated financial implications for selected programs can be found in Appendix A.

1. Identifying those academic centers of excellence on which Washington State University Spokane branch campus will focus, build, and expand in order to enhance its upper division and graduate enrollment;

a. Health Sciences

The Health Sciences Consortium discussed above will make important contributions to the effectiveness and continuing development of the Health Sciences in Spokane. It will provide valuable services to advance health research and training in the region. It will not, however, be a degree granting institution. The academic programs associated with it will be connected with academic colleges and departments.

Critical to the success of the Health Sciences Consortium is the concept of core services. Many of the required support activities reside within the Health Research and Education Center (HREC) and other service units like the Area Health Education Center (AHEC) which are located at WSU Spokane. The areas of core support activities presently available are critical to almost all Health Science Programs. By using the services available in the "core," efficiency is achieved and costs are significantly reduced. It is anticipated that HREC services will be contributed to the consortium. Additional funding will be necessary for the core services concept to be successful. The costs for some of the core services would be borne by the specific health science programs and the amount would be determined by use. The purpose of the core is to provide first class support to a variety of programs and to eliminate duplication of effort.

b. Interdisciplinary Design Institute.

The Interdisciplinary Design Institute is a unique collaboration among the design disciplines at WSU. Students and faculty from architecture, construction management, interior design, and landscape architecture work and learn together in a team-oriented environment. Design programs offered in Spokane include third, fourth and fifth years of the respective degree programs. Programs in the Interdisciplinary Design Institute are supported by a Geographical Information Systems and Simulation Laboratory (GISS) that can support additional teaching and research programs. IDI faculty have considered the next phase of development and collaborating with EWU’s Department of Urban and Regional Planning to offer new or redesigned degrees and anticipate developing a Doctor of Design degree.

c. Engineering and Technology.

Washington State University currently offers graduate level engineering programs in Spokane. Extensive discussions among engineering deans at Washington State University, Gonzaga University, and the University of Idaho have resulted in new joint initiatives in engineering and technology at the baccalaureate level, initially in computer engineering, and later in manufacturing engineering. The computer engineering degree will complement, not duplicate, already existing cooperation between WSU and EWU in computer science. Both WSU and EWU have resident faculty in the SIRTI building who have been coordinating course and laboratory offerings in computer science Because several graduate level engineering programs in Spokane are not currently attracting many students, WSU intends to suspend enrollment in very low enrollment programs and to offer them in the future only when warranted by demand. WSU will continually review enrollment levels in both existing and new engineering programs in Spokane to assess the demand for them. New programs will also be added to meet new community needs as they develop. Ongoing discussions among the three universities have the potential of leading to future proposals in environmental and biomedical engineering. Continuing education for professionals in the field will be provided, as well as or instead of degree programs, as needed by the community.

d. Business.

Washington State University’s College of Business and Economics has one new program, the Master of Technology Management, approved and ready for implementation in the spring of 1999. Three other programs, listed below, are planned for implementation as indicated. All of these programs will build on and complement existing offerings at Eastern Washington University.

Master’s in Technology Management beginning spring 1999.

BA in Business Administration specializing in Real Estate beginning fall 1999.

BA in Business Administration specializing in Risk Management and Insurance beginning fall 1999.

BA in Hotel and Restaurant Administration beginning fall 2000.

e. Education.

Current WSU Spokane offerings in Education include certification programs for Superintendents and Principals, and student teaching and seminar portions of the baccalaureate teacher preparation programs at the elementary and secondary levels. Residents of the Spokane area also participate in WSU’s Pullman campus Master in Teaching (MIT) cohort program to prepare K-8 teachers, with some course work available in Pullman in the summer and practica and other course work at sites in eastern Washington during the academic year. Deans of the Colleges of Education from Eastern Washington University, Gonzaga University, Whitworth College, and Washington State University met to explore areas of possible cooperation for the future. Among the topics discussed were collaborative meetings with area school districts to explore needs, community action programs to impact diversity, teacher education programs to serve the needs of tribal schools, collaboration on grant proposals intended for business and foundations regarding technology and teacher training, and summer camp programs for children who are educationally at risk. Further, faculty from these institutions are currently engaging in discussions regarding several academic areas including special education, school psychology and counseling programs, and exploring opportunities for sharing of interests which may in turn lead to additional programming possibilities. No new programs in Education are proposed in this plan. Future proposals will be developed in close collaboration with the other Spokane higher education institutions.

f. Agriculture

The Tri-State Bachelor of Science in Agriculture has the potential to be offered in Spokane, possibly in conjunction with community colleges. WSU is cooperating with Oregon State University and the University of Idaho to make this distance delivered degree available throughout Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. The program has pre-approval from the HECB statewide, and offering the program in Spokane would expand its availability to place-bound students interested in agriculture.

g. Support of academic programs.

Honors College

WSU’s Honors College, ranked among the top eight programs nationally, offers a liberal arts curriculum for high-ability undergraduate students accross all colleges and majors that takes the place of all general education requirements. Plans are underway to offer an upper division honors experience that will feature a seamless connection between the Pullman and Spokane campuses. Students will be able to enter the Honors College as freshmen at the Pullman campus and complete their honors studies at either of the two campuses. Courses will be taught in/from Spokane as well as Pullman. A second, but related, approach is an upper-division honors experience that is being developed for talented undergraduates who matriculate at WSU’s branch campuses. This will be implemented at WSU Vancouver during fall semester 1999. Soon thereafter, similar upper division programs will commence at the Spokane campus. The availability and quality of existing and emerging upper division programs at Spokane, along with the anticipated demand for enrollment in these programs by students with a highly successful record of performance, creates a need for these students to have an opportunity to enroll in honors studies. Students taking advantage of this opportunity will participate in the same enriched intellectual experience as their peers do in Pullman, and eventually, throughout the WSU system.

Library

Washington State University offers a full range of library services in support of current and potential academic programs in Spokane. Many of these services are offered in collaboration with Eastern Washington University. Further discussion of the collections and services available are provided in Appendix C. WSU supports the request from the Office of the Secretary of State for a new building to house state archives as well as a shared library.

Information Technology

In May of this year, WSU again made the listing of 100 most wired universities in Yahoo! Internet Life magazine, jumping from number 83 last year to number 44 this year. WSU is also among the top twenty "cyber-universities" according to Forbes magazine and is one of twenty-nine research institutions designated as an Internet 2 member by President Clinton. WSU’s networking and telecommunications services are fully prepared to support current and planned academic programs in Spokane. Voice, data, and video capabilities in offices, general classrooms, and WHETS classrooms have been and will continue to be designed for flexibility in adding or upgrading services. As technology continues to rapidly evolve, WSU is positioned to selectively implement those innovations, enhancements, and improvements that will provide continuous service and improve quality in the most cost efficent manner.

Outreach

Washington State University Spokane and WSU’s Extension Programs in Spokane have developed a strong regional public service program in support of the land-grant mission of public service by offering community-based research and educational programs. In Criminal Justice, two research and training institutes, Washington State Institute for Community-Oriented Policing (WSICOP) and Western Regional Institute for Community-Oriented Public Safety (WRICOP) serve law enforcement professional and community members. These institutes partner with federal agencies, educational institutions, law enforcement training academies, and criminal justice professionals to provide on-site technical assistance, consulting, research programs, and information sharing. Through partnerships among school districts, families, alumni, community organizations, industry and business, and government, WSU participates in the Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) program, increasing the number of African American, Hispanic, Native American, and women students pursuing mathematics, engineering, and science careers.

Spokane County Cooperative Extension represents the cooperative efforts of Spokane County, Washington State University, and the United States Department of Agriculture. With six faculty, eleven program staff and three support staff, this office provides educational programs to citizens on critical issues facing individuals, families and communities. Goals include guiding children and youth to become productive citizens and leaders (4-H); strengthening families through improved parenting skills, nutrition, and financial management; building healthy neighborhoods that are safe and secure (EFNEP and Family Focus); and improving quality of life through programs that teach environmentally sound agronomic practices (Master Gardener and Agriculture). As a result of family and community program training, eighteen agency personnel, including community corrections officers are providing life skills education to TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families) recipients and individuals with limited resources to help them become successful participants in the Spokane job market. EFNEP (Extension Family and Nutrition Education Program) reached 440 low income families, building skills in parenting and building nutritional well being. 4-H built strong foundations in youth development targeting the home school audiences with science and technology educational activities. The Classic 4-H program has 203 trained volunteers working with 1200 youth county wide.

h. Research Collaboration with SIRTI

As the senior research partner in SIRTI, Washington State University intends to work closely with the executive director of the Institute to coordinate research and education activities that focus on the development of products and processes that will enhance the economic growth of Spokane and eastern Washington. Additionally WSU, in partnership with SIRTI, will work to develop and strengthen university-industry relationships through the conduct of research that is of interest to companies based in eastern Washington and state economic development programs. Potential collaborative research projects between SIRTI and WSU include wood technology, precision agriculture, non-thermal food processing, materials science, and reproductive biology. Current WSU/SIRTI projects are listed in Appendix F.

i. International Programs

The globalization of economies, education and information and their role in regional economic development has been recognized and effectively utilized in other parts of the country. The economy of the Inland Northwest is dependent upon international trade which is important in agriculture and other sectors. Washington State University has well established and broad based international programs including networks, alliances and partnerships with institutions and organizations in other countries that support the incorporation of international information, experiences and understandings into education, research and outreach programs and activities. Current and expanded partnerships and collaborations with other Spokane educational institutions, particularly Whitworth College, in a consortium mode can provide significant access and delivery of effective international programs. The result can be increased international competitiveness for Inland Empire businesses and enhanced economic development. WSU already has in place a number of programs and activities.

2. Reflecting that programs in physical therapy, communications disorders, nursing, and dental hygiene will continue to be offered through Eastern Washington University in Spokane;

Space for physical therapy(including the proposed occupational therepy program), communications disorders, and dental hygiene is available in existing space or in the Health Sciences Building now under design. The nursing program will continue to be offered in the ICNE facility.

3. Including a requirement that Washington State University identify and report to the Board programs that should be offered in Spokane because of documented demand, unique partnerships, demonstrated efficiency, and other considerations.

Previously identified in this report were academic centers of excellence offering programs upon which the WSU Spokane branch campus intends to focus, build, and expand. These include partnerships that include the Health Sciences Consortium, the Interdisciplinary Design Institute, engineering and technical programs and business programs that complement existing EWU offerings. In coordination with others, programs in agriculture are under development and partnership opportunities in education and urban and public affairs are under consideration. All new programs will be offered by core faculty at Riverpoint. Existing programs not currently at Riverpoint will be moved there as space becomes available. Some programs will be enhanced by the Washington Higher Education Telecommunications System (WHETS). For example, at Riverpoint, WSU already provides engineering courses to Spokane professionals via both WHETS and resident faculty, enabling them to benefit from the resources of a research university and to interact with professionals as well as with engineering faculty from other universities. The system has been well received by both faculty and students. Students benefit from learning from a broader array of faculty members, and faculty can share their knowledge with a larger and more diverse pool of students. Faculty find the need to travel is minimized, while still allowing for face-to-face interaction. As partnerships develop in this field and others, WHETS will greatly facilitate bringing together the strengths each partner brings to the program. Courses offered by the University of Idaho will be delivered at their Post Falls research park or at Riverpoint via WHETS.

4. Ensuring that undergraduate programs that are offered at Washington State University Spokane branch campus do not duplicate undergraduate programs offered by Eastern Washington University at Cheney.

No undergraduate programs that are offered at Washington State University Spokane duplicate or will duplicate undergraduate programs offered by Eastern Washington University at Cheney.

5. Describing and targeting Washington State University Spokane branch campus’s primary student audience.

Nearly 86% of new students entering the WSU Spokane branch campus in fall 1997 entered from a Washington four-year institution—most of those entering from WSU Pullman or Eastern Washington University. The Architecture and Construction Management students who relocate from WSU Pullman to WSU Spokane (and are not counted as new students) constitute 16% of WSU Spokane’s total enrollment. The Doctor of Pharmacy students who relocate from WSU Pullman to WSU Spokane beginning in fall 1998 will account for 22% of WSU Spokane’s total enrollment. The student body is about 85% Washington residents and of these, about 42% are from Spokane County, 11% are from Stevens County, and 10% are from King County. Overall, the Spokane campus has enrolled slightly more women than men, although in the fall 1997 semester the student body was 50% men. Multicultural enrollment has been between 7% and 10%. The average Spokane student is 31 years of age.

6. Ensuring that Washington State University Spokane branch campus’s admission standards complement the primary student audience;

Admissions standards on all Washington State University campuses are applied uniformly. Students applying for admission to Washington State University Spokane will have their applications evaluated consistent with the standards applied on all campuses.

7. Describing circumstances under which it is appropriate for Washington State University Spokane branch campus programs to serve other than its primary student audience;

WSU intends to serve a broader geographic audience, possibly with a larger proportion of traditional age students, in programs designed to attract students from throughout the inland Northwest and beyond. The presence of programs in emerging fields, especially in the health sciences and related high tech areas, as pointed out by Paul Sommers, are important in planning for Spokane because the programs themselves and the research activities and funding that they generate will contribute to the local economy.

8. Establishing projected enrollment levels for Washington State University Spokane branch campus that reflect the needs of an upper-division and graduate level branch campus and that account for the demographic qualities and growth patterns associated with the areas from which the branch campus draws its students;

WSU Spokane enrollment (not counting ICNE) has nearly doubled in the last seven years. Average annual FTE enrollment has grown from 148 to 403 from 1991-92 to 1998-99. Actual enrollment has exceeded the budgeted level in five of the last eight years. (A change in the Pharmacy program from a five-year to a six-year program left the Spokane campus without the usual cohort of Pharmacy students in the 1997-98 academic year.) Our current enrollment plan calls for the WSU Spokane branch campus to grow to 1,500 average annual FTE by the year 2010. We expect approximately 1,000 FTE in the programs that already exist in Spokane and an additional 500 FTE in programs that are yet to be added to the campus. Programs will continue serving upper division, professional, and graduate students. The majority of the FTE will be in the design disciplines and related programs, engineering related programs, and health sciences related programs. Graduate enrollment accounts for just under 60% of the total WSU Spokane FTE, the highest proportion of any WSU campus. The health related disciplines will continue to account for between 55% and 60% of this graduate enrollment.

9. Describing how Washington State University Spokane branch campus’s enrollment levels will be consistent with state enrollment levels.

This growth plan is consistent with the growth outlined in the HECB’s 1991 Graduate Education Study. It also serves the State’s need to increase participation rates at the upper division and graduate levels.

10. Developing financial projections for serving these projected enrollment levels.

By multiplying our FTE projections by dollar figures based on the State’s Cost of Education study, we can calculate preliminary costs for upper division and graduate FTE as well as for health related and other disciplines. We project that the current instructional budget of $7.5 million, including tuition and state funding, will need to grow to $8.2 million in FY 2000, $11.2 million in FY 2001, $14.8 million in FY 2004, $21.3 million in FY 2008 and $30.3 million in FY 2011 (in FY 2001 dollars). These figures do not include costs of developing new search and outreach structures such as the Health Sciences Consortium or capital projects.

11. Analyzing and reviewing all capital and capacity information regarding the Washington State University Spokane branch campus, with particular attention to the current state of the existing physical plant and to the realistic enrollment capacity of the campus.

It is obvious that many factors go into determining the enrollment capacity of a particular campus. Funding levels, facilities, teaching modes, level of students and mix of disciplines are all important to consider. Consultants working for the HECB have looked at one group of factors, student stations within facilities, and estimated the capacity of the Riverpoint campus. This estimate includes spaces assigned to both WSU and EWU. The consultants concluded that based on the number of student stations in classrooms, the student capacity at Riverpoint is 1,988 with an additional 776 coming on line with the opening of the Health Sciences facility. The same estimates based on the number of class lab stations are 694 and 495. Depending on whether one considers classrooms or class labs the physical capacity of the Riverpoint campus, according to the consultants’ report, is between 2,764 and 1,189. It is difficult to say which, if either, of these numbers is most correct. The classroom and class lab space seems adequate to meet the near-term need although if WSU is to move out of leased space in downtown Spokane, a building in addition to the Health Sciences facility will be required. WSU is requesting pre-design funding in the next biennium for that building. Both WSU and EWU are currently experiencing a shortage of faculty office space at Riverpoint. We hope to add about 23,000 gross square feet of library space to the campus as part of the State Archives Office, and the expansion of ICNE is planned to accommodate increased enrollments in Nursing.
WSU and EWU realize that space at the Riverpoint campus is not utilized to capacity and in the most efficient manner. To address this challenge, WSU has proposed new programs in emerging disciplines that will attract new students and be offered during daytime hours. New programs that are focused on community needs will maximize utilization of space during evenings and weekends. Both universities have agreed to use WSU's new scheduling software to schedule classroom space for all courses offered by both institutions, further maximizing space utilization. Classrooms will no longer be assigned exclusively to a single institution. All of the instructional facilities at the Riverpoint campus are new construction and are in excellent condition.