Resources for Degree Proposal Statement of Demand/Need

HECB Definitions of Types of Need/Demand

Student Demand: Student interest in an academic program as measured by unduplicated (qualified) applicants to the program entry or major field selection. Alternatively, student demand can be estimated by projecting the number of degrees to be awarded and applying historic FTE/degree ratios to yield projected enrollment levels. The impact of anticipated policy and program changes, including transfer policy, planned outreach and recruitment efforts, and economic trends, should be addressed when estimating student demand.

Workforce Demand: Demand from regional or state employers or industries for graduates from a particular degree program. In addition to research carried out in planning the program, the following can also be helpful: surveys of employers, statistics on placement rates of graduates from relevant programs at your institution or others in Washington, quotes and statistics from US Department of Labor publications, Washington State Employment Security data, and quotes and statistics from industry or professional associations. With some graduate programs, it is appropriate to discuss national and international demand.

Community Demand: Demand for academic programs to meet existing and emerging community needs. This may include: programs serving new or emerging industries and occupations (for which high current employment demand cannot be documented) or to support regional/statewide economic development goals and strategies; programs where there is extraordinary local or regional interest (e.g., Native American studies, creative and professional writing); and, programs that address emerging national or global policy concerns, such as environmental sustainability or renewable energy.

Some data resources for each type of need/demand

Student

• enrollment in minors and options
• surveys of prospective students and past alumni
• information from advisers and faculty such as student requests for major or degree
• local institutional research

Workforce

• reports on demand from state and government agency, industry groups, economists
• surveys of local and state employers
• local institutional research

Community

• community organizations
• department and professional groups
• local institutional research

HECB Reports on Demand and Planning

HECB State and Regional Needs Assessment

• URL: http://www.hecb.wa.gov/research/Issues/NeedsAssessment.asp
• Proposals must reference this report in describing demand in a Planning NOI and full proposal. The Needs Assessment and other reports on this website here describe the supply of associate and baccalaureate degree in Washington State and how it matches workforce demand.

HECB Strategic Master Plan

• URL: http://www.hecb.wa.gov/research/masterplans/masterplansindex.asp
• Proposals should address the two major goals of the Strategic Master Plan, and other parts of the plan if they apply.

Other resources for data and information on need/demand

• Workforce Explorer is a database for the Washington Employment Security Department that provides data about job openings: http://www.workforceexplorer.com/
• WOIS is a career development for students site that lists degrees available at various colleges within the state: http://www.wois.org/
• The Prosperity Partnership is Puget Sound coalition that studies the regional economy: http://www.prosperitypartnership.org/
• Appendix C of the HECB’S A Skilled and Educated Workforce (2009) lists a number recent state reports on workforce demand: http:www.hecb.wa.gov/news/documents/Skilled-EducatedWorkforce2009.pdf

Office of Academic Affairs and Planning
301 Loew Hall  |  Box 352191  |  Seattle, Washington 98195
Phone: 206.685.3519