Notification of Intent to Plan a New Distance Education Degree Program

THE PURPOSE OF ACADEMIC PROGRAM PLANNING: Planning a distance education degree program provides an opportunity for an institution to make the case for need and demand and for its ability to offer a quality program. This notification, and the planning activity to follow, do not guarantee that authorization to establish will be granted.

Date: draft 7-1-08

Constituent Institution: East Carolina University

CIP Discipline Specialty Title: Management Information Systems, General

CIP Discipline Specialty Number: 52.1201 Level: B

Exact Title of the Proposed Program: BSBA in Management Information Systems

Degree Abbreviation: BSBA Proposed Date of Initiation: January 2009

Will this program be completely individual access (e.g., Internet, videocassette)? Yes

If “yes,” primary mode of delivery: Internet

SACS/COC substantive change questions (1=Procedure One; 2=Procedure Two)

Site-based (where the instructor is present):

Is the institution initiating instruction where the student may earn more than 25% and less than 50% of credits toward a degree at a site 30 miles or more from the campus? (2) No

Is the institution initiating an (additional) off-campus site at which students may earn at least 50% of an educational program? (1) No

Is the institution adding significantly different degree programs at a currently approved site? (2)

Distance learning (where instructor and student are geographically separated):

Is the institution offering its first credit courses via technology-based instruction by which students can obtain at least 25% of credits toward a degree program? (2) No

Is the institution expanding a previously reported program from less than 50% of credits to 50% or more of a degree program? (2) No

Is the institution adding a significantly different program from previously reported programs offered via technology-based instruction? (2) No

If this action constitutes a substantive change, by what date should SACS be notified? N/A

1. Briefly describe the proposed program and intended audience.

The BSBA in Management Information Systems primarily focuses on the role that computers play in human settings, either individual or organizational. ECU's MIS degree provides a foundation for the analysis and design of information systems and the knowledge of application software to develop business solutions.

2. Describe the proposed instructional delivery systems (e.g., on-site instruction, interactive video, Internet, etc., including combinations of these).

The program will be delivered via the Internet utilizing Blackboard as the course management system

3. Describe need for the program (referencing results of surveys or special studies). If site-based, is any other institution (public or private) offering a similar program in the location(s)? If individual access, is any other UNC institution offering a similar individual access program?

We have a number of students who want a more specialized degree than our present online General Business concentration. The online program is growing by about 20% per year with about 20 new requests for information coming in each week. About 25% of these requests result in enrollment in the program. We currently have more than 400 students who will be declaring in some business field in the next two years. We need additional programs just to manage them.

While a degree in Management is by far the most sought after degree. The Management Information Systems Degree is both very lucrative in terms of starting salary and number of open positions. Adding the MIS degree will provide our growing online population with more choices and more equity with their on campus colleagues.

4. Projected total annual enrollment: Years 1) 15 2) 20 3) 20 4) 20 5) 20

Name, title, telephone, and e-mail of contact person to respond to questions:

Dr. Richard D. Hauser, Jr.
Associate Professor and Chair
Department of Management Information Systems
252-328-6893
hauserr@ecu.edu

This intent to plan a new distance education degree program (or program site) has been reviewed and approved by the appropriate campus committees and authorities.

Interim Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs