THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA

APPENDIX A: NOTIFICATION OF INTENT TO PLAN A NEW BACCALAUREATE OR MASTER’S PROGRAM

Date:

12/03/2009

Constituent Institution:		East Carolina University
School/College:	Technology and Computer Science		Department:	Technology Systems

Program Identification:

CIP Discipline Specialty Title:

Computer/Information Technology Services Administration and Management

CIP Discipline Specialty Code:

11.1099.123.000

Level: B

Exact Title of the Proposed Degree:

Network Technology

Exact Degree Abbreviation (e.g., BS, BA, MA, MS, CAS)

Does the proposed program constitute a substantive change as defined by SACS?

Yes

a) Is it at a more advanced level than those previously authorized?

Yes

b) Is the proposed program in a new discipline division?

Yes

Approximate date for submitting the request to establish proposal (must be within one year of date of submission of notification of intent to plan):	March 15, 2011
Proposed date to establish degree (month and year): (Date can be no sooner than six months after the date of notification of intent to plan and must allow at least three months for review of the request to establish, once submitted).	August 2011

1. Describe the proposed new degree program. The description should include

a) a brief description of the program and a statement of educational objectives

The master of science degree program in network technology (MSNT) is the next step in development of professional master’s programs in the areas of information technology and networked computer systems. This program is currently offered as a component of the MS in technology systems and comprises three of the seven total concentrations including: digital communications technology, computer networking management, and information security. This proposal recognizes the growth and development, over the last five years, of this strong and vibrant set of network and information system concentrations within the MS in technology systems. The focus of the MSNT will continue to be graduate education for professionals in the fields of information assurance, network planning, network design, network management, and related areas and will continue to be delivered both on-campus and online.

It is appropriate to transition the information and computer technology components of the MS technology systems program to independent degree status for three strategic development reasons. First, the new degree will enable increased focus for the objectives, content, and direction of the program. Second, the change will allow a more integrated educational experience for students. Finally, the change recognizes the current growth and strength of this area of the economy and the job market forecasts of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Together, the result will be an improved degree credential and more focused learning experience for professionals in the growing and developing information and computer networking areas.

The educational objectives of this program are to:

· provide graduate education in network technology-- an area that has been identified as “high need” by the BLS

· interface education with business and industry, government, and defense organizations to create mutually beneficial opportunities for research, technology transfer, and employment

· prepare students to compete in a global economy, as well as internationalize programs through active global outreach and partnerships

· contribute to North Carolina’s workforce by preparing graduate professionals in high need occupations

· Improve and increase access to higher education for North Carolinians, especially in underserved areas

· strengthen the relationship between UNC institutions and the NC Community College System through curricular development, improvement, and support for community college instructors

· support the State Department of Public Instruction in its efforts to improve public education in North Carolina

Graduates from this program will

· demonstrate applied strategies for solving problems related to information and network systems analysis, design, implementation, evaluation, and maintenance

· exhibit the technology management skills required for career progression in the area of information and computer technology

· apply modern information and computer technology modeling, analysis, and simulation tools to create, test, deploy, and manage solutions for IT problems and customer requirements

· analyze hardware, software, and organizational environments in which system implementation and operation occur

· employ critical-thinking skills and problem-solving strategies and techniques to solve information technology problems in organizations

· convey information effectively to colleagues, customers, staff, senior management, and other professional stakeholders using oral, graphic, web, and written tools

· analyze trends in technology and demonstrate skills to adapt to a changing IT and computing environments

· demonstrate a commitment to continuous professional development and professional growth

· analyze technological alternatives and demonstrate the ability to develop and manage projects including budget development, cost analysis, evaluation of risk factors, scheduling, and identification of functional requirements

· integrate people, equipment, and systems to achieve a cost effective operations and maintenance plan for delivery of needed information and network services

b) the relationship of the proposed new program to the institutional mission and how the program fits into the institution’s strategic plan and its response to UNC Tomorrow

This MSNT program will serve the need for professional development and advanced technology studies in an evolving and growing technological field. As a result, it integrates with key components of the ECU mission statement: To serve through education, to serve through research and creative activity, and to serve through leadership and partnership. The proposed MSNT also supports the UNC Tomorrow (UNCT) initiative in that it:

· offers a unique graduate education option that has been identified as an area of need in North Carolina and the nation

· opens opportunities for partnership with regional and statewide industry, government, and defense system organizations in the areas of network technologies

· enhances new and emerging research opportunities for the faculty in the information and computer technology programs in an emerging field

· focuses on development of technology professionals in a key professional field and promotes growth of strong linkages and interactions with the industrial, business, and public sector organizations of Eastern North Carolina

In addition, the proposed MS program specifically addresses the following current ECU Strategic Planning Goals as outlined in ECU Tomorrow: A Vision for Leadership and Service and related sub elements, as well as the UNC Tomorrow initiative:

· Student preparation to compete in the global economy (UNCT 4.1.1, 4.1.2): The MSNT program will be globally competitive as evidenced by integration of current industry standards and partnerships with Cisco Systems, Nortel Networks, Oracle Corporation, Red Hat, VMware, Inc., etc. The program has already received recognition by our designation as a National Center of Excellence in Information assurance Education by the National Security Agency.

· Internationalization of programs, students, and faculty (UNCT 4.1.2, 4.1.3): Faculty members in the information and computer technology (ICT) area are developing partnerships with international universities that will allow faculty and students to collaborate on projects, encourage international exchanges of faculty and students, and strengthen research opportunities.

· Commitment to student learning and success (UNCT 4.1.1): ICT faculty continues to employ different tools and techniques that maximize interaction and student learning.

· Commitment to increasing access to higher education for all students (UNCT 4.2.1, 4.2.3, 4.2.5): Increasing access to higher education for the poorer regions of the state and for underrepresented minorities and underserved areas is our top priority. The proposed degree will be 100 percent accessible online and all students, regardless of location, will have complete access to state-of-the art laboratories from anywhere and at any time. All students (including those with disabilities) will receive equitable instruction, have access to faculty and resources, collaborate on projects with faculty and other students, and receive instructional support remotely, without any burden of having to travel to campus.

· Support of innovative partnerships that foster economic development both within the university and between the university and the community (UNCT 4.1.3, 4.4.1, 4.4.2): The economic prosperity and development of North Carolina is fore front in the mission of the College of Technology and Computer Science. Our faculty and students continue to engage in community-based outreach and service projects that help strengthen relationships throughout the eastern region and the state. Additionally, ICT faculty continue to develop partnerships and interdisciplinary collaborations in areas of mutual interties across the ECU campus.

· Commitment to provide ongoing educational and learning opportunities to support the continued development of a competitive workforce for North Carolina (UNCT 4.2.6): Due to its very dynamic nature, the information and computer technology field requires retraining and continuous improvement in order stay in step with technological advances. The MSNT degree and certificate programs will provide opportunities for professionals and academic faculty to obtain needed credentials (like SACS) and training needed to become more successful in their jobs. These programs will also provide training and retraining opportunities for current and future workforce.

Other UNCT initiatives supported by the proposed program:

· UNCT 4.2.2, 4.3.3: Ongoing efforts to strengthen the relationship between UNC and Community College System. Currently, our undergraduate program in information and computer technology is fully articulated with the community college system. The proposed graduate program strengthens that articulation by providing access to faculty resources to the community colleges. This program provides an avenue for community college instructors to receive ongoing training and instructional support to help them obtain needed credentials that meet accreditation requirements (such as SACS), stay current, and help produce higher quality graduates.

· UNCT 4.2.6: Commitment to academic success for all students. Our faculty members are fully committed to the academic and lifelong success of all students. To that end, ICT faculty strives to develop, offer, and upgrade programs in step with technological advances and labor market needs. ICT faculty work with students individually or in groups, both face-to-face and online, to insure maximum achievement, understanding and retention of subject matter. Our commitment to student success spans both baccalaureate and masters degree levels. For those wish to pursue terminal degrees, the MSNT provides the necessary preparation and foundation for success at that level as well.

· UNCT 4.3.1, 4.3.3: Improving Quantity and Quality of Teachers. The MSNT provides an opportunity for current faculty and industry professional wishing to pursue academic careers obtain necessary education and credentials to teach at community colleges, technical institutes, and even four year institutions around the state. This will help alleviate some of the problems surrounding teacher shortages, training, retraining, recruitment, and retention of qualified teachers.

· UNCT 4.3.4, 4.3.5: ICT Faculty collaborate with both the community college system and the Department of Public Instruction to enhance education in North Carolina. We recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the NC Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to accept IT credits from North Carolina high school students wishing to pursue undergraduate ICT degrees at ECU.

c) the relationship of the proposed new program to other existing programs at the institution

This proposal recognizes the growth and development, over the last five years, of a strong and vibrant set of network and information system concentrations within the MS in technology systems. Currently the Department of Technology Systems offers seven concentrations under the MS in Technology Systems. There will be four concentrations in this new MSNT program. Three concentrations (Digital Communications, Information Security, and Computer Networking) will be split from the current MS in Technology Systems program and become a part of this new degree. Currently there is a website developer graduate certificate program and this will be modified and added to the degree as a fourth concentration: Web Applications Development. These concentrations are described in the tables 1 and 2 below, along with the proposed curriculum.

The current MS in technology systems is a 30s.h. degree program that consists of a common core of 12 s.h. and 18 s.h. of concentration content. The MSNT will maintain a similar structure but will focus the courses on the needs of the information technology and network professional. The four concentrations, Digital Communications, Information Security, Computer Networking Management, and Web Applications Development will build on a 15 s.h. common core courses and include15 s.h. of technical concentration content courses for a total of 30s.h. As illustrated in Tabless 1 and 2, the major, planned curricular changes involve the modification of the core courses and the related changes that occur in the concentration areas. The revised core will provide a more focused IT foundation for all of the concentration areas.

Table 1: Program Core Change Summary

Current MSTS Program Core (12 hours)

Proposed MSNT Core (15 hours)

ITEC 6000 Statistical Applications in Industry

ITEC 6406 Capital Project and Cost Analysis for Technology

ITEC 6200 Project Management

ITEC 6050 Strategies for Technical Management and Communications

ICTN 6823 Information Security Management

ICTN 6878 Legal and Ethical Issues in Information Technology ITEC 6XXX Research Methods

ITEC 6200 Project Management

ITEC 6000 Statistical Applications in Industry

Table 2: Planned MSNT Concentration Courses

Digital Communications

Information Security

Computer Networking Management

Web Applications Development

ICTN 6810 Communication Technology

ICTN 6820 Networking Technology for Industry

ICTN 6830 Advanced Networking Technology

ICTN 6840 Communication Strategies for Industry

ICTN 6850 Managing Technological change

ICTN 6865 Fundamentals of Network Security

ICTN 6870 Advanced Network Security

ICTN 6855 Networked Commerce Systems

ICTN 6873 Network Intrusion, Detection and Incidence Response

ICTN 6883 System Integrity for Information Technology

ICTN 6850 Managing Technological Change

ICTN 6865 Fundamentals of Network Security

ICTN 6875 Emerging Technology

ICTN 6880 Advanced Topics Information Infrastructure Design

ICTN 6885 Network Management Technology

ICTN 6810 Communication Technology

ICTN 6815 Network Media Systems

ICTN 6825 Dynamic Web Services

ICTN 6835 Enterprise Web Services

ICTN 6845 Web Site Development

Thesis Option

For students interested in a research focus, the MS in network technology provides a thesis option with 6 s.h. of the required 30 s.h. dedicated to the development of independent research. Students should identify a thesis advisor early and develop an abstract of the research topic and the contribution. The MS thesis option committee will consist of a minimum of three members.

d) special features or conditions that make the institution a desirable, unique, or appropriate place to initiate such a degree program.

The Department of Technology Systems currently has approximately 175 master’s degree seeking students and 65 graduate certificate students in various program areas. About 60percent of the degree-seeking students are in the MSNT- related concentrations, with about 85 percent being distance students. Consequently, the degree will not require a start up period and will not have to establish recognition in academic circles. In addition, ECU has a strong and flexible distance education delivery system that is capable of serving place-bound students and is currently delivering the program. Finally, the Department of Technology Systems faculty members have experience and long standing capability in delivering quality distance graduate programs to professional students.

From a human resource perspective, the Department of Technology Systems has seven faculty members with doctoral qualifications in the degree related areas. The strength of this faculty team was recently highlighted when their collaborative efforts resulted in ECU’s redesignation by the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security as a National Center for Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education. This faculty team will continue to support the program and will continue to develop in step with technological advances in the field.

Job and career prospects in the networking and information systems areas are projected to continue to grow at rates significantly above the national averages. Per the Bureau of Labor Statistics, computer network and network management related professions are projected to continue to be among the fastest growing through 2016.

2. List all other public and private institutions of higher education in North Carolina currently operating programs similar to the proposed new degree program.

It is important to note that the proposed MSNT degree program has been in existence as a series of concentrations within the MSTS for more than a decade; hence this change has no new impact on other programs throughout the state and the issue of competition or duplication does not even arise. Currently, there are more than 100 degree-seeking students currently enrolled in the concentrations that will be rolled into the MSNT , so the program will not be starting from scratch or competing with any other unit or institution for resources.

The following information on related master’s degree programs is extracted from the University of North Carolina web site at: http://www.northcarolina.edu/programs/distance.php?&search_text=&mode=search&actn=go&results_only=0&q[degree_abbr]=M#searchtop. . Some of the listed programs have related names, but have different focus or areas of emphasis.

· NCCU (103 miles) -- Information Sciences (11.0401): http://www.math.nccu.edu/grad.html. Program is pure computer science and has no conflict with the proposed MSNT.

· WSSU (184 miles) -- Computer Science and Information Technology (11.0101): http://www.wssu.edu/WSSU/GraduateStudies/Graduate+Programs/Computer+Science/Masters+Programs.htm. Program is pure computer science and has different focus than the MSNT.

· UNCG (166 miles)--Information Technology and Management (11.0901): http://www.uncg.edu/bae/isom/masters/. Program emphasizes managerial aspects of information technology and is non-technical. The MSNT is a very technical and applied program and has no conflict with the one at UNCG.

· NCAT (166 miles) -- Information Technology (11.1001). (http://www.ncat.edu/academics/). This program was approved recently and has different emphasis and has a narrower focus than the proposed MSNT.

· UNCC (212 miles) — Information Technology (11.0103): http://www.cci.uncc.edu/sis/site/. Program is more theoretical and has a heavy software focus.

· UNCW (113 miles) — Computer Science and Information Systems ( 11.0101): http://www.csb.uncw.edu/mscsis/. Program is pure computer science and has different focus than the MSNT.

· NCSU (90 miles) -- Computer Networking: http://networking.ncsu.edu/about.php. Has more engineering focus than the proposed degree.

In addition, all SACS-accredited institutions in North Carolina (http://www.sacscoc.org/searchResults.asp) were reviewed for related master’s degree programs and none were found to be relevant to the proposed degree program. An additional listing of private universities in North Carolina (http://statelibrary.dcr.state.nc.us/NC/EDUCATED/privated.htm) was reviewed with similar results.

3. Estimate the number of students that would be enrolled in the program during the first year of operation.

Full-time

Part-time

4. If there are plans to offer the program away from campus during the first year of operation:

a) briefly describe these plans, including potential sites and possible method(s) of delivering instruction.

Since the program will continue to be offered through the ECU distance education network, there are no plans for other potential sites.

b) indicate any similar programs being offered off-campus in North Carolina by other institutions (public or private).

The proposed program is not new since it currently exists as a series of concentrations under the MS in technology systems (MSTS). As was previously stated, the program has more than 100 degree-seeking graduate students already enrolled. Consequently, this proposal for a standalone degree does not present any issues related to duplication of similar degree programs anywhere in the state.

From a statewide perspective, a review of the inventory of related degree programs at the UNC website indicates the following degree titles in areas related to the proposed degree that are offered via distance education (as of 09/08/2009) (http://www.northcarolina.edu/content.php/apps/disted2/searchresults.php?inv_type=D&browse=cis).

1. Disaster Management, 11.0802, UNC CH. Actual Title: Community Preparedness and Disaster Management (CPDM). This program does not emphasize content from the networking area and has a different CIP Code than the proposed program according to: http://www.sph.unc.edu/hpaa/cpdm_curriculum_789_1353.html

2. Computer & Information Sciences; 11.0101, NCSU. Actual Title: Content is a blend of Electrical & Computer Engineering and Computer Science and has no conflict with the proposed program. (http://www.csc.ncsu.edu/academics/graduate/degrees/mcsdl.php). The program at NCSU is engineering-based, and provides theoretical depth with emphasis on design and programming of new devices and systems. The proposed MSNT is lab-based, providing hands-on practical learning experiences in an applied learning environment.

3. Master of Information Science, 11.0401, NCCU. The actual degree is a joint program-- Joint Master of Business Administration/ Master of Information Science (M.B.A./M.I.S.) (http://web.nccu.edu/graduatestudies/programs.php), is non-technical, has limited number of networking courses (http://web.nccu.edu/business/graduate/cis_grd.htm), and does not conflict with the proposed program.

4. Information Technology, 11.1001, NCAT (http://www.ncat.edu/academics/). This program was approved recently and has a different emphasis and CIP code than the proposed degree program. The focus of this program is very narrow and does not overlap with the proposed MSNT.

The proposed MSNT degree program that is being proposed by ECU is unique in the sense that it has been operating as concentrations under another degree program for several years. With more than 100 students already in the various degree concentrations in the networking areas, the issue of competition does not even arise. This program is being repackaged into a standalone status to better serve our clients and constituents. The proposed program is unique in itself due its heavy application orientation, uses a different CIP code (11.1099), and is offered on campus and online. The decision to use the generic CIP code 11.1099 stems from the fact that the proposed degree has four concentrations that span multiple CIP codes. Election of any one of the four CIP codes will exclude some of the concentrations as shown in table 3.

Table 3: CIP Codes (11.10xx) for Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management

Source: http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2002/cip2000/ciplist.asp?CIP2=11

Code	Description	Relevance to Proposed Degree
11.10	Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management. (NEW) Instructional content for this group of programs is defined in codes 11.1001-11.1099.
-----	Customer Service Management. (Report under 52.0207)
-----	Management Information Systems , General. (Report under 52.1201)
-----	Information Resources Management/CIO Training. (Report under 52.1206)
11.1001	System Administration/Administrator. (NEW) A program that prepares individuals to manage the computer operations and control the system configurations emanating from a specific site or network hub. Includes instruction in computer hardware and software and applications; local area (LAN) and wide area (WAN) networking; principles of information systems security; disk space and traffic load monitoring; data backup; resource allocation; and setup and takedown procedures. (Occupational Crosswalk)	MSNT: Digital Communications
11.1002	System, Networking, and LAN/WAN Management/Manager. (NEW) A program that prepares individuals to oversee and regulate the computer system and performance requirements of an entire organization or network of satellite users. Includes instruction in performance balancing; redundancy; local area (LAN) and wide area (WAN) network management; system migration and upgrading; outage control; problem diagnosis and troubleshooting; and system maintenance budgeting and management. (Occupational Crosswalk)	MSNT: Computer Network Management
11.1003	Computer and Information Systems Security. (NEW) A program that prepares individuals to assess the security needs of computer and network systems, recommend safeguard solutions, and manage the implementation and maintenance of security devices, systems, and procedures. Includes instruction in computer architecture, programming, and systems analysis; networking; telecommunications; cryptography; security system design; applicable law and regulations; risk assessment and policy analysis; contingency planning; user access issues; investigation techniques; and troubleshooting. (Occupational Crosswalk)	MSNT: Information Security
11.1004	Web/Multimedia Management and Webmaster. (NEW) A program that prepares individuals to develop and maintain web servers and the hosted web pages at one or a group of web sites, and to function as designated webmasters. Includes instruction in computer systems and networks; server installation and maintenance; web page design and editing; information resources management; web policy and procedures; Internet applications of information systems security; user interfacing and usability research; and relevant management and communications skills. (Occupational Crosswalk)	MSNT: Web Application Development
11.1099	Computer/Information Technology Services Administration and Management, Other. (NEW) Any instructional program in computer/information technology services administration and management not listed above. (Occupational Crosswalk)	MSNT Overall

It is important to point out that the proposed program already has faculty and resources (including laboratory facilities) in place and does not require any additional startup or implementation funds. Furthermore, the proposed program has earned a national recognition due to its designation as one of the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education (CAEIAE) by the National Security Agency. As a result of the CAEIAE designation, ECU now has an NSA-funded Information Assurance Research laboratory that supports both research and instruction in the proposed program and provides NSA scholarship opportunities for our students. To that end, both the university and the NSA have significant investments in both teaching and research infrastructure that support current programs.

c) estimate the number of students that would be enrolled in the program during the first year of operation:

Full-time

No plans for off campus sites

Part-time

No plans for off campus sites

5. List the names, titles, e-mail addresses, and telephone numbers of the person(s) responsible for planning the proposed program.

The following faculty will continue to be involved in the degree program:

· Phil Lunsford, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Technology Systems, 252-328-9670, lunsfordp@ecu.edu

· Tijjani Mohammed, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Technology Systems, 252-328-9668, mohammedt@ecu.edu

· Erol Ozan, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Technology Systems, 252-328-9667, ozang@ecu.edu

· ChengCheng Li, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Technology Systems, 252-328-9671, liche@ecu.edu

· Peng Li, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Technology Systems, 252-328-9669, lipeng@ecu.edu

· Charles Lesko, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Technology Systems, 252-737-1907, leskoc@ecu.edu

· Te-Shun Chou,PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Technology Systems, 252-737-1037, chout@ecu.edu

· J. Barry DuVall, PhD, Professor, Department of Technology Systems, 252-737-1265, duvallj@ecu.edu.

· Christine Russell, J.D., Visting Assistant Professor, Department of Technology Systems, 252-737-1470, russellc@ecu.edu.

The intent to plan a new program has been reviewed and approved by the appropriate campus committees and authorities.

Chancellor:

Date: