Program Needs

Analysis

3.0

Highline College Master PlanProgram Needs Analysis

3.0 Program Needs Analysis

HC offers a wide range of educational programs for students. HC offers associate transfer degree programs, adult basic educa-tion, professional/technical degrees, certificates and workforce training. In addition, HC now offers applied bachelor’s degrees in four programs: Cybersecurity and Forensics, Global Trade and Logistics, Respiratory Care, and Youth Development. Students can also earn a bachelor’s or master’s degree on Highline’s main campus through it’s partnership with Central Washington University, co-located in Building 29. HC strives to offer relevant coursework and training for high demand industries and foster economic development in the community at large.

3.1 CURRENT POPULATION SERVED

HC is one of the most diverse community colleges in the State. During the 2014-15 school year, 74% of students enrolled were students of color. Highline’s commitment to diversity, social justice, and multiculturism earned the college the Award of Excell-lence from the American Association of Community Colleges for increasing diversitiy and social equity on campus.

Table 1. Demographics of HC Student Population

HC Service Area

Higline College is one of 34 community and technical colleges in Washington state and serves the people of King County. Follow-ing is the District map outlining Highline’s service area.

Table 1. Demographics of HCC Student Population - updated

  2014‐2015 Student Characteristic  #  % Total Enrollment (credit and non‐credit)  16,917  N/A Enrolled in Credit Courses  10,785  64% Median Age of credit‐enrolled   23  N/A Female   9,594  57% Students of color    74%      Hispanic    19%      Asian/Pacific Islander    21%      African American    17%      Multi‐racial/other    17% 

Master Plan | 27

Highline College Master PlanProgram Needs Analysis

-

^̂^̂

^̂

^̂

^̂

^̂

^̂ ^̂

^̂

^̂

^̂

^̂

MuckleshootReservation

PuyallupReservation

Auburn

Dieringer

FederalWay

Highline

Issaquah

Kent

MercerIsland

Peninsula

Renton

Seattle

SouthKitsap

Sumner

Tacoma

Tukwila

VashonIsland

Fife

Puyallup

UV599UV509

UV169

UV160

UV163

UV518

UV161

UV164

UV16

UV900

UV181UV515

UV18

UV516

UV99

UV99

UV509

UV167

UV167

¥̈§¦705

¥̈§¦405

¥̈§¦5

¥̈§¦5

Auburn

Bellevue

DesMoines

FederalWay

FifeFircrest

Kent

MercerIsland

Newcastle

Renton

Seattle

Tacoma

Tukwila

HighlineCollegeMain Campus

HighlineCollegeMaST Center

HighlineCollegeOutreachCenter

Highline College — District 9

College district boundary

K-12 school district^̂ District-related community and technical colleges

^̂ Other community and technical colleges

College districts defined by RCW 28B.50.040. Maps produced by Washington State Department of Transportation, Transportation Data & GIS Office as commissioned by State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, August 2014.

HIGHLINE COLLEGE SERVICE AREA - DISTRICT 9

Master Plan | 28

Highline College Master PlanProgram Needs Analysis

Approximately 92% of Highline’s students come from King County. Table 2 below shows data on the cities where the majority of students reside. Federal Way contributes the highest percentage of students attending HC, followed closely by Kent.

Table 2. Distribution of student residence by City

 

6095.15903.5

5519.4 5618.16043.9

64436575

72626927

6389

6371

61166005

6965

67856407

66386870

7333

8106

87198446

8005

8224

7930 7905

4500

5000

5500

6000

6500

7000

7500

8000

8500

9000

Total and State‐Funded FTE: 2002‐2015

State‐Funded FTE

Total FTE

3.2 STUDENT FTES - HISTORICAL DATA

Student enrollment has fluctuated in the past decade, peaking in 2009 -2010, with a gradual decline in recent years. This is typical at most community colleges, where enrollment fluctuates with changes in the economy. More students seek education and train-ing during slow economic times while fewer students enroll in programs during times when the econmy is thriving.

Table 2. Distribution of student residence by city ‐ updated    2014‐2015 City  #  % Federal Way  3421  20.4% 

Kent  3189  19.0% 

Des Moines  2348  14.0% 

Burien  1971  11.8% 

Auburn  1363  8.1% 

SeaTac  1173  7.0% 

Tacoma metro  719  4.3% 

Seattle metro  600  3.6% 

Renton  600  3.6% 

White Center  215  1.3% 

Tukwila  164  1.0% 

Master Plan | 29

Highline College Master PlanProgram Needs Analysis

3.3 FTE GROWTH PROJECTIONS

While small FTE declines occured in recent years as the economy strengthened, HC anticipates that enrollment will remain relativly flat in the short term plan. Growth is anticipated in the mid term plan, as the growth of the college age population rises in Washington State (Source: State of Washington Office of Financial Management) http://www.ofm.wa.gov/pop/stfc/stfc2015/stfc_2015.pdf Further, it is anticipated that Sound Transit’s new Transit Center and light rail will potentially attract more students to Highline College.

If fully or partially implemented, the America’s College Promise proposal from the Obama Administration would create a program with states to help waive tuition in high-quality programs for responsible students, while promoting reforms to help more students complete at least two years of college. Redefining or restructuring the role of community colleges, coupled with free tuition, can lead to increases in student enrollment, persistence, and completion transfer.

HC projects a net growth of approximately 300 student FTEs by the end of the mid term plan.

Faculty and Staff

Fall quarter Faculty and staff:

� Full Time Faculty: 165

� Part Time Faculty: 248

� Exempt & Clasified: 284

� Hourly Employees: 135

Faculty is anticipated to grow, but at a slower rate than student FTE growth. The typical Faculty:student ratio is 1:30. HC projects an estimated growth of 10 Faculty FTE by the end of the Mid-Term Plan.

3.4 PROGRAM SPACE NEEDS

The following list of program space needs are based on HC’s priorities and growth expectations:

� Health and Wellness programs will benefit from from a reconfiguration of space and upgraded technology to support the use of simulation equipment, which is a best practice in these programs. Co-location of the Health and Wellness programs with the Life Sciences in the same building will allow for collaboration and shared use of resources. This project has received design phase funding from the State, and the renovation of Building 26 for the Health and Life Sciences programs is antici-pated to begin Construction July 2017, pending State funding approval. See Implemenation Plan for schedule.

� There is a need for additional Faculty Offices. There are four existing stand-alone Faculty buildings that are in poor condition. Existing offices are small (75 sf typical), and these two-story buildings are not accessible (no elevator). Faculty offices should be replaced with standard size offices of 120 sf typical, and integrated with Instructional/Academic buildings to improve access to students.

Highline College Master Plan ‐ Student Growth

State Funded Student FTEs NotesCurrent (2016) 5,980Short Term (2020) 5,980 No growth in Short Term PlanMid ‐ Term (2029) 6,279 5% Increase from current

5/3/2016

Master Plan | 30

Highline College Master PlanProgram Needs Analysis

� The Engineering and Arts programs are currently located in a building (Building 16) that is not optimal for the program. Build-ing 16 was built to house long-gone professional technical programs. While alternate uses have been found, it’s deteriorating condition, failing mechanical systems, and inefficient design make it a prime candidate for replacement.

� ABE/ESL courses will continue to be a substantial segment of the College’s enrollment with ESL courses in demand by a grow-ing segment of the Latino population.

� Running Start is also anticipated to contribute to growth in the mid term plan.

� Highline College will continue to expand it’s offerings in 4-year programs. Anticipated new Baccalaureate programs include Education.

� Additional classrooms are needed in response to anticipated growth in ABE/ESL, Running Start, and new Baccalaureate pro-grams in the mid term plan.

� Off-site programming is a core element of the Highline mission, and requires additional on-campus space to support this ele-ment. Coordinated off-campus programs with on-campus advisors and for-credit courses would increase student prepared-ness to transition to the main campus or take further courses online. The development of for-credit courses located off-cam-pus is targeted for the following communities: 1) Burien; 2) White Center; 3)Tukwila; and 4) Federal Way

� Student Services spaces will need to increase to meet the growing volume and complexity of student demand for confidential counseling, tutoring, multicultural services, and advising in support of a successful academic experience.

� A residence hall for international and other students will increase the College’s ability to attract and support this potential growing segment of its student population.

Please refer to the following Implementation Plan section of this document for anticipated schedules and implementation of pro-posed projects.

Back to Table of Contents

Master Plan | 31