Letter of Notification (LON) Policy A1.0 New Academic Programs: Approval Process

Institution: University of Tennessee Knoxville Proposed Academic Program: Geographic Information Science and Technology, BS Proposed Implementation Date: Fall 2021 CIP 2020 Code: 45.0702 CIP Code Title and Definition: Geographic Information Science and Cartography A program that focuses on the systematic study of map-making and the application of mathematical, computer, and other techniques to the analysis of large amounts of geographic data and the science of mapping geographic information. Includes instruction in cartographic theory and map projections, computer-assisted cartography, geographic information systems, map design and layout, photogrammetry, air photo interpretation, remote sensing, spatial analysis, geodesy, cartographic editing, and applications to specific industrial, commercial, research, and governmental mapping problems. LON Submission Date: June 1, 2020

Posted Date on THEC Website June 2, 2020

Public Comment Period June 2 – 16, 2020

Letter of Notification Checklist

THEC Academic Policy 1.0 (Section 1.0.6A) Letter of Notification Requirements: Letter of Support from the President/Chancellor signifying institutional

governing board or system office support for development; Program name, degree designation and CIP code; Proposed implementation date; Academic Program Liaison (APL) name and contact information; Purpose and Nature of Program; Alignment with state master plan and institutional mission; Feasibility Study; Program Costs/Revenues; and Existing programs offered at public and private Tennessee institutions.

[Type text] [Type text] [Type text]

Office of the Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor 527 Andy Holt Tower Knoxville, TN 37996-0152

865-974-2445 865-974-4811 fax provost.utk.edu

May 20, 2020 Randy Boyd, President University of Tennessee System 800 Andy Holt Tower 1331 Circle Park Knoxville, TN 37996 Dear Mr. Boyd: The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, proposes to develop and offer a new Bachelor of Science degree in Geographic Information Science and Technology (GIS&T). For some time, the university has offered training in GIS&T under the umbrella of the Bachelor of Arts degree in Geography, and specifically through the Geospatial Science and Technology concentration within the Geography major. The proposed new Bachelor of Science degree will enhance the existing curriculum in this concentration with additional course work focused on science, technology, and mathematics in order to prepare graduates from the GIS&T program to become leaders in using advanced geographic information technology, including the application of geospatial “big data” resources, to the solution of important societal problems. The U.S. Department of Labor projects that job opportunities in the geospatial technology industry will continue to grow over the next decade. Specifically, the Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that jobs in the fields of cartography and photogrammetry will grow 15% over the next decade, a rate of growth that is substantially higher than the average for all occupations. The Department’s Occupational Information Network projects that job opportunities for geospatial information scientists and technologists and for geographic information systems technicians will grow somewhere between 7% and 10% over the next decade. Training in GIS&T will position University of Tennessee graduates for careers in these fields. The university’s department of Geography already offers the core coursework needed for the proposed new GIS&T major. I am in full support of the proposed new GIS&T major, which would give undergraduate students a pathway to the high-quality STEM-related jobs and careers associated with the use of geospatial “big data” to solve problems in the workplace and in society. At this time, I ask that you

GIS&T Page 2

transmit the attached Letter of Notification to the Tennessee Higher Education Commission for their review. Sincerely,

David Manderscheid Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor University of Tennessee Knoxville Attached: Letter of Notification CC: Theresa Lee, Charles Collins, Ron Kalafsky, Liem Tran, Karen Etzkorn, Donde Plowman

Letter of Notification (LON) Institution: The University of Tennessee, Knoxville College: The College of Arts & Sciences Department: Geography Title of Degree: Bachelor of Science degree in Geographic Information

Science and Technology Formal Degree Abbreviation: Geographic Information Science & Technology CIP/THEC Code: 45.0702 CIP Code Title: Geographic Information Science & Technology Proposed Implementation Date: Fall 2021 Academic Program Liaisons: Karen Etzkorn, Director of Academic Affairs 711-F Andy Holt Tower University of Tennessee System, 37996 Phone number: 865-974-2104 Email: etzkorn@tennessee.edu Liem Tran, Professor Department of Geography 1000 Phillip Fulmer Way, BGB 306 Knoxville, TN, 37996 Phone number: 865-974-6034 Email: ltran1@utk.edu

Table of Contents

Background and Nature of the Program ......................................................................................... 3

Alignment with State Master Plan and Institutional Mission ......................................................... 4

Institutional Capacity for Program Delivery ................................................................................... 8

Existing Programs in Tennessee ..................................................................................................... 9

Feasibility Study ........................................................................................................................... 10

Program Costs and Revenues........................................................................................................ 13

Appendix A: THEC Financial Projection Form ........................................................................... 15

Appendix B: Letter of Support ..................................................................................................... 18

Appendix C: Results of the Web Survey for B.S. in GIS&T ....................................................... 24

Appendix D: Focus Group Discussion on the Creation of a B.S. in GIS&T ................................ 33

Background and Nature of the Program

Background and Purpose Since 2016, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) has offered training in Geographic Information Science and Technology (GIS&T) under the umbrella of the Bachelor of Arts degree in Geography, and under the designated Geospatial Science and Technology Concentration for undergraduate students seeking a career in diverse GIS&T fields. The purpose of the proposed program is to expand upon and enhance the existing curriculum in the Geospatial Science and Technology Concentration with additional STEM and cutting-edge GIS&T coursework to create a stand-alone Bachelor of Science degree program. Doing so would classify the degree as a STEM program and assign an appropriate federal CIP code designation. CIP 45.0702, Geographic Information Science and Cartography, is a STEM field within the category “Other Related Fields.” Assigning a STEM-associated CIP classification to the curriculum will attract additional highly skilled international students. For domestic students, the STEM designation will enhance their application for scholarships and career improvement.

Nature of the Program The proposed program of study will lead to a Bachelor of Science degree in Geographic Information Science and Technology. This interdisciplinary field encompasses a wide range of application areas, including transportation logistics, network analysis, emergency management, urban planning, public health, resource and environmental management, location intelligence, and energy analytics, among others. Demand for well‐trained GIS&T professionals currently exceeds the supply of graduates in this area. Trained individuals are needed at multiple levels, ranging from certified entry‐level technicians to research scientists with a doctoral degree. In Tennessee, local, state, and federal government agencies, as well as various other organizations, seek skilled GIS&T professionals. Because of its unique location and land grant mission, UTK has a responsibility to provide this kind of quality education and training to residents of the entire State of Tennessee. Publications from Forbes1 have highlighted the “limitless future” of GIS&T and predicted that GIS&T would be one of the fastest-growing fields in terms of job availability, desired skillset, and high pay in the next few years and decade. This program will attract both traditional and adult

1 Louis Columbus. 2017. “LinkedIn's Fastest-Growing Jobs Today Are In Data Science And Machine Learning”. https://www.forbes.com/sites/louiscolumbus/2017/12/11/linkedins-fastest-growing-jobstoday-are-in-data-science-machine-learning/#7f86e0a51bd9

Helen Thompson. 2019. “The Enterprise Technology Behind Big Business Decisions.” https://www.forbes.com/sites/esri/2019/11/13/the-enterprise-technology-behind-big-business-decisions/#3e36df0971fe

Jon Younger 2019. “What Are The Best Paying And Most Sought Skills For New Grads And Freelancers?” https://www.forbes.com/sites/jonyounger/2019/05/20/the-best-paying-and-most-sought-after-jobs-for-new-grads-and-freelancers-now/#4114fb0a4c63

learners to UTK. UT Knoxville’s growing experience with creating and running interdisciplinary programs makes this university a natural home for the proposed program.

The proposed GIS&T program will teach students to bridge the gap between advanced geographic information technology and real-world problems/applications and to use spatial mapping, modeling, and analytics to make informed decisions. Further, the proposed degree will provide students with foundational training in the principles of spatial, statistical, and mathematical analysis, as well as knowledge of computer science, spatial data structures, algorithms, and information visualization. It will also teach students the technical skills needed to retrieve and cleanse big spatial data for real-world applications. Students will learn to start by understanding the question at hand, then using it to look for data relevant to the issue. Additionally, they will learn the skills necessary to prepare and display data as they model, analyze, and evaluate the issue at hand. Finally, they will learn skills to develop and deploy the model to ensure that it is widely used. Students will conclude their time in the GIS&T program with either a capstone project or an internship, which will allow them to follow the process of utilizing geospatial science in a real-world setting, thereby ensuring they have a portfolio of work to show prospective employers.

Alignment with State Master Plan and Institutional Mission

State Master Plan The Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) established a 2015-2025 Master Plan2 for postsecondary education. Under this plan, 55% of the state of Tennessee’s working-age population (ages 25-64) would attain a postsecondary credential by 2025—a goal termed “Drive to 55.” The proposed BS in GIS&T major aligns with the Drive to 55 Master Plan goal by increasing postsecondary education options for Tennesseans who have an interest in GIS&T.

The proposed GIS&T degree aligns directly with the State Master Plan in two essential ways.

1. The proposed program creates an undergraduate degree program and associated curriculum that focuses on one of the largest economic growth industries in Tennessee and neighboring regions: the geospatial technology industry.

Numerous projections from government agencies and market research firms indicate considerable growth in the geospatial technology industry, as well as growth in GIS&T-related employment sectors and fields. The U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration (DOL ETA), for example, cites an annual growth rate of approximately 35 percent for the geospatial technology industry, with reliable public sector revenue accounting for approximately one-third of the industry’s total annual receipts. According to Prescient & Strategic (P&S) Intelligence3, the global geographic information system (GIS) market was valued at $10.8 billion in 2018 and is

2 Tennessee Higher Education Commission. Postsecondary Attainment in the Decade of Decision; The Master Plan for Tennessee Postsecondary Education 2015-2025. https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/thec/bureau/research/other-research/master-plan/MasterPlan2025_0418.pdf 3 Prescient & Strategic (P&S) Intelligence Private Limited 2019. “GIS Market to Generate Revenue Worth $19.7 Billion by 2024.” https://www.psmarketresearch.com/press-release/global-geographic-information-system-market

anticipated to reach $19.7 billion by 2024, exhibiting a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 10.7% during the forecast period (2019–2024). Among the various offerings, the data category held the largest share in the market during 2018, and it is likely to undergo the fastest growth during the forecast period. This category continues to gain significant growth opportunities from small- and medium-sized geographic information system projects with engineering and business applications. For instance, retailers now use consumer behavioral data to map specific populations that require specific products to increase their sales.

Concerning GIS&T-associated occupations, a particular highlight is the field of cartography and photogrammetry. According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), jobs in the field of cartography and photogrammetry are expected to grow 15 percent from 2018 to 2028, much faster than the average for all occupations. With a median salary of over $60,000 and only a four-year college degree expected for entry-level employment, jobs related to cartography and photogrammetry present excellent opportunities for recent university graduates who have GIS experience and certification.

In Tennessee, the geospatial technology industry was not listed as a stand-alone industry by the TN Department of Labor & Workforce Development4. However, almost all of the occupations associated with GIS&T in Tennessee received positive forecasts for the period of 2018-2028 by CareerOneStop, an organization sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor. For example, the percent change in employment for “Computer and Information Systems Managers” from 2018 to 2028 in Tennessee is at 27% (compared with the national percent change of 11%). For the same period (2018-2028), percent changes in employment of “Software Developers, Applications,” “Information Security Analysts,” “Database Administrators,” and “Computer Network Support Specialists” are at 53%, 37%, 23%, and 21%, respectively. For comparison, CareerOneStop forecasts only a 17% percent change in employment of “Engineers, All Other” in Tennessee from 2018 to 2028.

2. The proposed program will provide Tennesseans with the opportunity to prepare for careers in the growing geospatial technology industry.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Information Network (O*NET), an authoritative source for continually updated occupational information and labor market research5, projected growth for “Geospatial Information Scientists and Technologists” and “Geographic Information Systems Technicians” at faster-than-average rates (7% to 10%) from 2018 to 2028, with median wages (2018) at $43.40 hourly and $90,270 annually. With a similar projected growth rate for 2018-2028 (e.g., faster-than-average, 7% to 10%), the median wages (2018) for “Software Developers, Systems Software” are at $52.89 hourly and $110,000 annually. Conversely, “Software Developers, Applications” is projected to have a much faster than average rate (11% or higher) for 2018-2028, with median wages (2018) at $49.82 hourly and $103,620 annually.

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, recognizes the growing interest in taking GIS&T classes over the last six years. Specifically, enrollment in GIS&T courses offered by the Geography department increased from 201 students in the 2012-2013 academic year to 405 students in 2018- 4 www.jobs4tn.gov 5 https://www.doleta.gov/programs/onet/

2019, representing a 201% increase. Since UTK offers five separate concentrations for the Geography BA major in 2016, the department has observed a rising trend in Geography majors to take the Geospatial Science and Technology Concentration. In particular, this concentration currently accounts for about 40% of the department’s Geography BA majors. Among thirty Geography BA majors who graduated in spring and summer 2019, fifteen completed the GIS & T Concentration, indicating that the GIS&T field continues to attract more students.

Students increasingly find that GIS&T is beneficial to their future careers in federal, state, and local government agencies6, as well as public health/epidemiology, private industry (e.g., telephone, utilities, construction, engineering, energy, environmental planning, and consulting firms), and mapping/GIS/GPS software companies like ESRI, Google Earth, and Uber. This proposed stand-alone BS degree in GIS&T will attract more students and increase degree production of GIS&T within the state. It will also contribute to Tennessee’s economic development and workforce and enhance the quality of life for the citizen of the state by graduating professionals for this rapidly growing employment area in the United States.

The University of Tennessee Institutional Mission and Visions The University of Tennessee System operates by the following mission statement:

The University of Tennessee System, through its multiple campuses and institutes, serves the people of Tennessee and beyond through the discovery, communication, and application of knowledge. The System is committed to providing undergraduate, graduate, and professional education programs in a diverse learning environment that prepares students to be leaders in a global society. The UT System’s delivery of education, discovery, outreach, and public service contributes to the economic, social, and environmental well-being of all Tennesseans7.

The UT System Administration Strategic Plan, launched in June 2012 and was updated in 2017, outlines the university’s vision, direction, and goals to ensure mission fulfillment, good stewardship, and purposeful use of resources. These goals include (1) enhancing educational excellence; (2) expanding research capacities; (3) fostering outreach and engagement; (4) ensuring effectiveness and efficiency; and (5) advocating for the University of Tennessee System8.

A BS degree in GIS&T will contribute to the university’s vision and goals through by (i) enhancing educational excellence, (ii) creating value through economic, social, and environmental development targeted to the local community, the state of Tennessee, and the nation, and (iii) fostering outreach and engagement.

UTK enhances education excellence through excellence in teaching, scholarship, service, and the utilization of UTK’s strengths.

6 Examples include the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, U.S. Geological Survey, Forest Service, Department of Defense, and State Departments of Transportation or Agriculture 7 https://tennessee.edu/mission-statements/ 8 https://tennessee.edu/about/

Adopting an interdisciplinary approach, the proposed BS degree in GIS&T will utilize diverse and extensive resources both internal to the University (e.g., courses and faculty from several departments), as well as from externally (e.g., Oak Ridge National Laboratory, ORNL). The diversity of faculty and programs is one of UTK’s greatest strengths. Utilizing these resources to implement a new degree will unify the best aspects of all areas and leverage the strengths of the university broadly.

The UT System is among fewer than ten universities across the country in a prestigious management role with a U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory. Through UT-Battelle, the university has managed Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) for the Department of Energy since 2000, while UT’s collaboration with Oak Ridge dates back more than 50 years. ORNL is the nation’s largest open-science laboratory, with an annual budget of $1.65 billion, and UT is ORNL’s most significant research partner, with more than two hundred UT faculty holding joint appointments with the lab. In the context of GIS&T, there remains a longstanding and strong connection between the UTK Geography Department and ORNL’s Geographic Data Group through collaborative research, joint faculty appointments, and numerous GIS&T internships. A BS degree in GIS&T hosted by the UTK Geography Department will leverage existing partnerships and elevate the established connection and collaborations between UTK and ORNL in the GIS&T fields.

UTK creates value through economic, social, and environmental development:

With considerable growth in the geospatial technology industry and GIS&T-related sectors, a BS degree in GIS&T will significantly contribute to the supply of the workforce to the industry. Consequently, the proposed program will generate value in economic, social, and environmental developments at levels ranging from local communities to the entire state of Tennessee and the nation.

UTK fosters outreach and engagement:

With the strong connection that exists between UTK and ORNL, other agencies and sectors, as well as with local communities, a BS degree in GIS&T will enable students to be actively involved with external research and outreach projects. Those projects are opportunities for outreach, engagement, consulting, research grants, and analysis of data for the good of the community. College Mission and Vision A BS degree in GIS&T will offer significant contributions to the UTK College of Arts and Sciences’ vision, which includes (a) the production of graduates who are innovative citizen leaders and (b) the pursuit of groundbreaking research and creative expression that enriches lives and seeks solutions to society’s problems.

Institutional Capacity for Program Delivery

The department of Geography at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, can meet the demand for the BS program in GIS&T by drawing on current resources and faculty expertise. UTK Geography already offers much of the coursework necessary for a new BS degree in GIS&T major. Specifically, in addition to beginning courses, it offers intermediate and advanced GIS&T coursework, such as Spatial Data Management for Socioeconomic and Environmental Applications (GEOG 414), Geographic Software Design (GEOG 510), GIS for Environmental Modeling (GEOG 512), Geographic Information Management and Processing (GEOG 517), and GIS Project Management (GEOG 518), among others. A team of seven full-time faculty and three full-time GIS staff members in UTK’s Department of Geography are qualified to teach in GIS&T fields, including Remote Sensing, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Global Positioning System (GPS), and Internet Mapping Technologies. GIS&T faculty members in the Geography Department are experts in diverse fields of GIS&T at both the national and international levels. The three GIS staff members have extensive training and expertise, specifically in the field of GIS, GPS, and remote sensing.

GIS staff will teach beginning courses (e.g., Geovisualization and Geographic Information Science (GEOG 311), Geospatial Field Methods of UAVs, LiDAR, and GPS (GEOG 313)), provide technical assistance in intermediate and advanced GIS courses, provide logistic assistance in service-learning courses (GIS in the Community (GEOG 420), Independent Study (GEOG 493)), and maintain computer laboratories and GIS equipment (e.g., drone, 3-D laser scanner). In addition to GIS&T courses in the geography department, students pursuing the BS program in GIS&T will take other STEM courses from Mathematics, Computer Science, and Information Science. Furthermore, UTK Geography has established a strong connection with ORNL, especially with the Geographic Data Group, through collaborative research, joint faculty appointments, and numerous GIS&T internships. This collaboration will promote shared learning experiences and exchanges between GIS&T faculty and students and world-class scientists at ORNL.

The proposed program will not replace the existing Geospatial Science and Technology Concentration. While the proposed program in GIS&T and the Geospatial Science and Technology Concentration share a similar set of core courses, the BS degree in GIS&T will include STEM-focused coursework and advanced quantitative GIS&T courses. Hence, the proposed BS program in GIS&T is expected to attract a new pool of students (i.e., STEM-oriented) rather than the traditional pool of students interested in the existing Geospatial Science and Technology Concentration. Therefore, any impact on the enrollment of the existing Geospatial Science and Technology Concentration is expected to be minimal.

Existing Programs in Tennessee

Table 1

Similar Programs in Tennessee

Institution Name

Program Title and Degree Designation

CIP Code

Description/ Focus of Program Miles from UT Campus

3-Year Degrees Awarded

East Tennessee State University (ETSU)

On THEC-CIP code webpage: GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS

On ETSU Catalog: Geosciences Major, B.S. (Geospatial Science Concentration)

28.45.0702.11

ETSU offers a BS degree in Geosciences with four concentrations: Geography, Geology and Environment, Geospatial Science, and Paleontology.

107 22 GEOS-BS (2015-2018)

Tennessee State University (TSU)

On THEC-CIP code webpage: APPLIED GEOSPATIAL INFO SYSTEM

On TSU Catalog: BS in AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES, Applied Geospatial Information Systems (GIS) Concentration

28.45.0702.11

TSU offers a BS in AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES with the following concentrations: Agribusiness, Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication, Biotechnology/ Pre-Medicine, Environmental Sciences; and Food and Animal Sciences /Pre-Veterinary Medicine/ Pre-Medicine

181 19 BS in Agricultural Sciences in 2018 in total but no details for separate concentrations

University of Memphis (UofM)

On THEC-CIP code webpage: GEOGRAPHICAL INFOSYSTEMS

Not listed on UofM Undergraduate Catalog

28.45.0702.11

Not listed on UofM Undergraduate Catalog

440 No data found from UofM’s Graduation Report Generator

There are three Bachelor programs listed in the THEC Academic Program Inventory with the CIP code 45.0702, which is the same CIP code of the proposed program (see Table 1). Tennessee State University offers a BS degree in Agricultural Sciences with several concentrations available, with Applied Geospatial Information Systems as one of those concentrations. However, that particular GIS Concentration does not appear among the concentrations offered by the hosted department, the Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences in the College of Agriculture. Similarly, the Geographical Information Systems at the University of Memphis, as listed in the THEC Academic Program Inventory, does not appear in the school’s undergraduate catalog. East Tennessee State University offers a BS degree in Geosciences and Geospatial Science with four available concentrations in the program. Details listed on ETSU’s Department of Geosciences website show that the Geospatial Science Concentration focuses mainly on Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing, but not Internet Mapping Technologies.

Feasibility Study

Student Interest for the Proposed Academic Program

The Geography Department at UTK designed an online survey using the software QuestionPro and then distributed the survey link to all instructors in the Geography Department with a request that they share the invitation with their students. Approximately 140 students were invited to participate in the survey. One hundred twenty-seven started the survey (84.67% participation rate), and 109 completed it (total response rate: 109/140=77.85%. Among those who completed the survey, approximately 60% were geography majors, and 40% were from other majors or undecided students.

Students answered a series of seven questions using a 5-point scale of “Strongly Agree” to “Strongly Disagree” or “Very Likely” to “Very Unlikely.” There was strong agreement among student respondents that a major in GIS&T would be a valuable addition to the majors offered at UTK (e.g., Strongly Agree: 69.49%; Agree: 23.73%). There was also substantial agreement among student respondents that a major in GIS&T would present many opportunities to make an impact on the work a graduate does (e.g., Strongly Agree: 70.43%; Agree: 26.09%). In general, a majority of student respondents was in favor of the proposed BS program in GIS&T being offered at UTK. A complete report of the results from the student interest survey appears in Appendix C.

As the next phase of assessing student interest in the proposed program, Mr. Kurt Butefish and Dr. Qiusheng Wu conducted a focus group with 18 students in GEOG 499: Practicing Geography. These students, all seniors, are near the end of their program. Students shared why they did or did not support the creation of a BS program in GIS&T. All students agreed that such a program would be a valuable addition to the majors offered at UTK. Two raised a concern about the requirement of additional math courses. These same students, however, agreed that if a program emphasized rigorous advanced training in GIS&T, ensured competencies in advanced geospatial technologies, and encouraged the real-world project and community involvement, graduates would have (a) more robust job prospects for a GIS job and (b) a higher starting salary. A complete report of the results from the focus group discussion appears in Appendix D.

National Trends

Introducing a BS degree in GIS&T is part of a larger trend both nationally and internationally. In March 2010, the U.S. Department of Labor identified geospatial technologies as one of the three most important emerging and evolving fields, along with nanotechnology and biotechnology. The term geospatial technologies describes the range of modern tools contributing to the geographic mapping and analysis of the Earth and human societies. During the last decade, these technologies have evolved into a network of national security, scientific, and commercially operated satellites complemented by powerful GIS. Additionally, aerial remote sensing platforms, including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), are seeing increased use in many fields/sectors/industries beyond the military. High-quality hardware and data are now available to new audiences, including universities, corporations, and non-governmental organizations. The fields and sectors deploying these technologies are growing rapidly, informing decision-makers on topics such as industrial engineering, biodiversity conservation, forest fire suppression, agricultural monitoring, and humanitarian relief, among numerous other areas. There is now a variety of geospatial technologies potentially applicable to many fields, such as:

Remote Sensing: imagery and data collected from space/airborne- camera and sensor platforms. Some commercial satellite image providers now offer images showing details of one-meter or smaller, making these images appropriate for many applications not feasible even ten years ago.

Geographic Information Systems (GIS): a suite of software tools for mapping and analyzing geo-referenced data (assigned a specific location on the surface of the Earth, otherwise known as geospatial data). GIS can detect and analyze spatial patterns in many areas, such as tracking disease outbreaks, optimal water and natural resource management, and optimal emergence response.

Global Positioning System (GPS): a network of U.S. Department of Defense satellites that can give precise coordinate locations to civilian and military users with proper receiving equipment.

Internet Mapping Technologies: software programs like Google Earth, Google Maps, and web features like Microsoft Virtual Earth are changing the way geospatial data is viewed and shared. The developments in user interface also make such technologies available to a broader audience. In contrast, traditional GIS has been reserved for specialists and those who invest time in learning complex software programs.

A BS degree in GIS&T at UTK aligns strongly with national trends in the development of geospatial technologies.

Local and Regional Need/Demand

At the state level, both THEC and the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development project employment trends. The ECD lists thirteen of the eighteen occupations in

SOC code 15 (Computer and Mathematical) as in “high employer demand in 1 or more regions.” It also notes that STEM-related employment in Tennessee will grow 1.5 times as fast as the overall employment growth. Similarly, THEC’s 2018 report on workforce needs found that employer demand outstripped supply in the “Web/Multimedia Management, Programming,” cluster (code 11.34), which houses most of our relevant CIP codes ‘11’. Moreover, the report estimated that 380 more positions would be available in this cluster annually than there will be applicants to fill them. The state’s Department of Labor and Workforce Development identifies each of the SOC codes we are examining as having a “bright outlook statewide.” As of December 2018, the department showed 266 applicants for 309 positions in these occupations.

Tennessee Higher Education Commission’s “2019 Annual Report of Academic Supply and Occupational Demand in Tennessee: Workforce Needs and Degree Production”69 states,

Regional projections indicate that the following six occupation groups are in high demand: Information Technology, Production, Healthcare, Engineering and Engineering-Related, Business and Financial Operations, and Transportation and Material Moving. (p. 4).

Table 1 of the 2019 report further lists the top 25 high-demand occupations with the highest number of annual openings. These careers include Computer User Support Specialists10, Software Developers-Application11, Computer Systems Analyst12, Network and Computer Systems Administrators13, and Software Developers-Systems Software,14 all of which relate directly to the proposed B.S. degree in GIS&T.

The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development lists 13 of the 18 occupations in SOC code 15 (Computer and Mathematical) as being in “high employer demand in one or more regions.” The department also notes that STEM-related employment in Tennessee will increase 1.5 times faster than the overall employment growth. Additionally, the East Tennessee region houses Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Tennessee Valley Authority, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, state and local government agencies, and many private companies and consulting firms that have adopted GIS&T in their workflows and consistently seek employees to support their GIS&T tasks.

The Occupational Outlook Handbook, published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics15, also predicts that the projected percent change in employment from 2018 to 2028 for Cartographers and Photogrammetrists is 15%, a figure that far exceeds the average growth rate of 5% for all occupations.

9 Tennessee Higher Education Commission 2019. Academic Supply and Occupational Demand in Tennessee, Workforce Needs and Degree Production. Annual Report January 15, 2019. https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/thec/bureau/research/other-research/supply-demand/2019%20Academic%20Supply%20and%20Occupational%20Demand%20Report.pdf 10 (SOC code 15-1151) 11 (SOC code 15-1132) 12 (SOC code 15-1121) 13 (SOC code 15-1142) 14 (SOC code 15-1133) 15 https://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/cartographers-and-photogrammetrists.htm

Employer Need/Demand

The CIP Codes used to label GIS&T programs are designated STEM fields. As is true of most STEM programs, demand for graduates is strong. The 2018 Jobs Rated Almanac (JRA) showed that careers in STEM shape the Best Jobs of 2018, which is no deviation from recent trends. JRA lists many GIS&T-related jobs in the top 20% among 220 rated occupations. For example, “Data Scientist” ranked seventh with a 19% projected growth in jobs through 2022. Conversely, “Software Developer” and “Application Software Developer” ranked 11th and 19th, respectively. A particular highlight is the field of cartography and photogrammetry. According to Geospatial World, which is the media and public relations arm of Geospatial Media & Communications, GIS&T is among the most in-demand job skills due to the increasing demand for geospatial data, which is leading the growth of numerous geospatial companies16.

According to P&S Intelligence, the 3-dimensional (3D) virtual reality geographic information system (VRGIS) has gained popularity for city planning and urban infrastructure development in developing countries. 3D GIS provides improved and detailed insight into complex databases of geographic information systems. Moreover, advanced projection-based displays enable urban planners to design 3D-based virtual models. Several 3D-based geographic information system applications, such as stormwater runoff and building surveillance, are experiencing high penetration in developed countries. According to the Environmental Systems Research Institute (Esri) Inc., 3D-based urban mapping is registering rapid growth, owing to the conversion of 2D mapping into 3D mapping of smart cities. P&S Intelligence sees the growing demand for geographic information system solutions in the transportation sector as one of the key factors driving market growth.

Applications of GIS in transportation include accident analysis, highway maintenance management, traffic modeling, and route planning. Moreover, GIS helps to plan, monitor, and manage complex systems involved in transportation planning and management more effectively. Highway maintenance management is a complex issue that is possible to address with GIS. By integrating maintenance and work order management systems with a geographic information system, highway management agencies have gained efficiency and productivity.

Future Sustainable Need

We collected several letters of support that demonstrate local and regional need/demand for GIS&T professionals, which can be met by the new BS in GIS&T at UTK. The letters are from employers in both public and private sectors at the national, state, and local levels (e.g., a state agency, county government, GIS enterprise/company). All letters indicate a substantial and increasing demand of GIS&T professionals in the near future. Letters are available in Appendix B.

Program Costs and Revenues

This degree will not require special facilities or equipment. UTK already employs seven full-time GIS&T faculty who are qualified to instruct and lead this program. Furthermore, UTK currently

16 https://www.geospatialworld.net/blogs/geospatial-among-hottest-job-skills/

offers many of the GIS&T courses in the Geospatial Science and Technology Concentration under the umbrella of the BA degree in Geography. Core courses will be adopted from this concentration, with additional courses added from Math, Computer Science, and Information Science. We have the expertise on campus to offer the requisite coursework. However, we may consider hiring additional faculty or adjuncts with the necessary expertise to offer new future courses or additional sections of existing classes. As shown in the Financial Projection Form, we have budgeted for additional adjunct faculty during the first five years of the proposed program to ensure the implementation of a high-quality program that meets the projected demand.

The Geography Department, housed within the College of Arts and Sciences, will administer the proposed GIS&T program. With the development and management of the Geospatial Science and Technology Concentration since 2016, the department has the administrative, instructional, advising, and facilities infrastructure in place to operate the BS in GIS&T program. In that context, administrative costs, while being considered as part of this proposal, will be minimal.

Operating Expenses A complete accounting of one-time and recurring costs, as well as revenue projections, are provided in Appendix A (THEC Financial Projections Form). Expenses include salaries for an additional instructor as the program grows, as well as funds to support recruitment and program promotion during and after implementation. The proposed degree will be funded entirely through tuition and fee revenue.

Revenues

Revenue will be generated from student tuition and fees. For this Letter of Notification, we have calculated tuition and fee revenue based on a conservative enrollment projection. We have used a 2 percent annual increase for recurring expenses as well as for tuition.

Appendix A: THEC Financial Projection Form

Appendix B: Letter of Support

Appendix C: Results of the Web Survey for B.S. in GIS&T

Q1. A major in Geographic Information Science & Technology (GIS&T) would be a valuable addition to the majors offered at UTK.

Answer Count Percent

1. Strongly Agree 82 69.49%

2. Agree 28 23.73%

3. Neutral 7 5.93%

4. Disagree 1 0.85%

5. Strongly Disagree 0 0.00%

Total 118 100%

Q2. A major in GIS&T presents many opportunities to make an impact with the work you do (e.g., help develop a neighborhood, conserve wildlife and nature, improve infrastructure, grow a business, or shape the way humans interact with the world, etc.)

Answer Count Percent

1. Strongly Agree 81 70.43%

2. Agree 30 26.09%

3. Neutral 4 3.48%

4. Disagree 0 0.00%

5. Strongly Disagree 0 0.00%

Total 115 100%

Q3. A major in GIS&T would give me stronger job prospects for a GIS job.

Answer Count Percent

1. Very Likely 70 60.87%

2. Likely 38 33.04%

3. Unsure 7 6.09%

4. Unlikely 0 0.00%

5. Very Unlikely 0 0.00%

Total 115 100%

Q4. A major in GIS&T would increase my starting salary after graduation.

Answer Count Percent

1. Very Likely 57 49.57%

2. Likely 34 29.57%

3. Unsure 19 16.52%

4. Unlikely 3 2.61%

5. Very Unlikely 2 1.74%

Total 115 100%

Q5. If this program were available now, how likely would you be to seek a degree in GIS&T?

Answer Count Percent

1. Very Likely 40 34.78%

2. Likely 23 20.00%

3. Unsure 28 24.35%

4. Unlikely 17 14.78%

5. Very Unlikely 7 6.09%

Total 115 100%

Q6. If this program were available now, how likely is it that you would take a course that is offered as a part of the GIS&T major to enhance your GIS skills and knowledge (e.g., web-based GIS, GIS programming & analysis)?

Answer Count Percent

1. Very Likely 67 58.77%

2. Likely 35 30.70%

3. Unsure 6 5.26%

4. Unlikely 3 2.63%

5. Very Unlikely 3 2.63%

Total 114 100%

Q7. If this program were available now, how likely is it that you would take a course that is offered as a part of the GIS&T major to enhance your job/career prospects (e.g., web-based GIS, GIS programming & analysis)?

Answer Count Percent

1. Very Likely 65 57.52%

2. Likely 33 29.20%

3. Unsure 8 7.08%

4. Unlikely 5 4.42%

5. Very Unlikely 2 1.77%

Total 113 100%

Q8. You are a:

Answer Count Percent

1. Freshman 13 11.40%

2. Sophomore 8 7.02%

3. Junior 12 10.53%

4. Senior 54 47.37%

5. Other 27 23.68%

Total 114 100%

Appendix D: Focus Group Discussion on the Creation of a B.S. in GIS&T

Mr. Kurt Butefish and Dr. Qiusheng Wu conducted a focus group with 18 students in the GEOG 499 – Practicing Geography – on Thursday, November 14, 2019. These students, all seniors, are near the end of their programs. Students shared why they did or did not support the creation of a BS program in GIS&T.

Discussion questions/prompts:

a. What benefits do you see in UT Knoxville offering a GIS&T degree? b. What is appealing to you about this new program in comparison to other

programs offered in the department? c. What are your plans or goals after graduation, and how could this program help

you to achieve them? d. What types of learning experiences, courses, or program features would be

valuable to you as a prospective student in the GIS&T program? e. What other suggestions or input do you have regarding a new major in GIS&T?

As currently no BS degree in GIS&T is offered in East Tennessee, students agreed that such a program would be a valuable addition to the majors offered at UTK. While the Department of Geosciences at ETSU offers a BS in Geosciences with the Geospatial Science Concentration, students pointed out that the program focuses mainly on Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing. On the one hand, those GIS and remote sensing courses are not different from those in the BA in Geography offered at UTK. On the other hand, the program at ETSU does not have courses in Internet Mapping Technologies, which are increased use in many fields, sectors, and industries. Students also thought that the Internet Mapping Technologies component in the new program is appealing the most to them in comparison to other programs offered in the department. For example, one student said:

“I think the technology aspect is really appealing because that’s where the industry is moving. It is more technology-focused in general.”

Another student said:

“This semester, I became really interested in the technology side like GIS analyst, data science, and those kinds of things. I haven’t had a real focus on technology as we will have in this new program. First, because my concentration allows me to have electives in human and culture courses. However, my understanding is that for concentration, it’s not as much of a computer science background and requirement but now I’m really interested in taking those classes. So I think being able, like you said, having a strong foundation in computer science and programming, would be very beneficial and worthy in the technology industry.”

And another student:

“So besides GIS programming as we have right now, we can also have some high-level courses about web design, websites, internet-based GIS. And also, you know, having knowledge of those cutting-edge GIS skills is going to become very appropriate in the next few years. I wish the department keep monitoring the job requirements on the market, and adapt and try to provide more to the new program to catch up and keep up

with the technology, and improve the program by adding the most recent technology that requires in the market.”

While there was very strong support for the new degree program proposal being expressed at the focus group discussion, a few students had concerns about the requirement of more math courses. For example, one student said:

“Right now, people that are in Geospatial Science and Technology concentration, not all of them are fantastic at math now or doing something like more STEM. Will it push people away because they’re not, you know, very good at math? Just like people that want to be engineers, but they can’t because of their math skills. I hope that the department does not get rid of the BA with the concentration in GIS. So, the new BS degree in GIS&T and the current BA with the concentration in GIS are those going to be separated so students can still have choices, either getting concentrations in GIS or the BS in GIS. This will be something valuable to everyone who wants to focus on GIS.”

On the other hand, other students were not worried too much about math courses in the new proposed program. One student said:

“I thought about this before and, to be honest, you don’t really have to have a very song mathematical background. It is more like data analytics, but it’s certainly beneficial because you’re trying to do a lot of programming, for example, using Python in a lot of packages, dealing with physical image array, for example, trying to deal with satellite imagery processing. They need to know how to convey in a way like multiple dimensions, something like that. So sometimes, you need a little bit more mathematical background, but you don’t have to know everything about math. Furthermore, the math requirement is based on most of the courses you take during your freshman or sophomore season; they should be sufficient. Then, you don’t have to worry too much about math, actually.”

Students, however, agreed that if a program emphasized rigorous advanced training in GIS&T, ensured competencies in advanced geospatial technologies, and encouraged the real-world project and community involvement, graduates would have stronger job prospects for a GIS job and would increase their starting salary after graduation. One student commented:

“I want to see more courses like GEOG 420, GIS in the Community, in the new program. We learn a lot in that class, not only about GIS skills, especially web-based GIS but also in working and interacting with real clients in real projects. We had a lot of fun, and the clients really like our products. That’s the best part.”

And another:

“Yes, real projects with the community will benefit students a lot. I got my internship because of those GIS community projects. I also improve my communication and management skills as well.”

Student also made several helpful suggestions to new major in GIS&T, for example, about coursework, advertising the program, etc. One student said:

“My experience is that a lot of people who come to the geography department and major in geography did not start as a geography student. So I just think if there is any way that we could possibly advertise this really well to people like this about the program. You should show what the program is, how important the program is, and how big the field is getting just to be able to attract new students of this program because it is very important.”

Another student added:

“If you can crack that nut, a lot of people will be very happy. It is because one of the challenges is students in Tennessee come out of high school, not knowing that geography is a viable career field. That is something that the department and the new program should work on. And if someone were to go to work in the GIS field and to go out and work in the community, do like [name of an alumn(us/a)] does and work with some of the local schools and go out and be geo evangelists, because sometimes that’s the only way people are going to learn about this stuff. The department might want to have current students who do know about GIS and opportunities to go back to their high school and say, “This GIS program is available right in Tennessee.” It’s a part of giving back by current students, and it’s helping high school students and their parents as well.”

When being asked whether they would pursue a degree in GIS&T if the proposed program were available four years ago, eleven out of eighteen students at the focus group discussion said, “Yes.” They would tell friends about a new BS degree in GIS&T if it receives approval.

In brief, students participating in this discussion forum raised many excellent points about the benefits brought to individuals and the region if UT Knoxville offers a GIS&T degree. They strongly agree that a BS program in GIS&T would be a valuable addition to the majors offered at UTK.