UCF prepares to add 22 new programs despite previous cuts

Over the next few years, incoming UCF students will have a variety of new degree programs to choose from — 22 to be exact.

UCF's Board of Trustees approved the implementation of more programs during its meetings last semester as part of the New Program Development Plan for 2010-11 through 2013-14.

Since July 2010, UCF has installed professional science master's degree programs in conservation biology and engineering management, master's degree programs in urban and regional planning and research administration, a research doctoral degree program in security studies, a bachelor's degree program in Latin American studies and a doctoral degree program in dental medicine professional.

Faculty members and several groups within the university, in response to students' concerns for more specialized majors and a better selection of master's degree programs, carefully chose these new degree programs; but the colleges in which the programs are to be implemented, are responsible for most of the work.

"A lot goes into creating a new degree program, including people's time and money, but the end result will be worth it for the UCF community as a whole," Tony Waldrop, UCF provost and executive vice president, said.

Finding faculty, paying for programs and expected enrollment

In some cases, UCF may already have faculty members with the right expertise to teach the programs, but if not, the colleges are responsible for hiring new faculty. If that is the case, there is a national search where ads are put in journals that searching faculty members may read. From there, a committee screens for applicants and invites them to a seminar that is open to faculty and students to provide input for the department chair. Finally, the dean of the college ultimately makes the decision to hire a new faculty member.

Aside from the work that goes into creating these programs, it also costs money. The most expensive is the security studies program, which costs $500,000 each academic year. Each year, the new programs will cost $600,000, plus an additional $100,000 for the urban and regional planning program in the fifth year of its development.

"These new programs will cost UCF money, but more importantly UCF will gain students and will continue to grow academically," Waldrop said.

However, the Latin American studies and research administration programs are estimated to not cost UCF a dime.

The expected enrollment for the Latin American Studies program is eight students in its first year in 2011 with 35 students in its fifth year. For the urban and regional planning program, the expected enrollment was 30 students in its first year in 2010, growing to 60 students in its fifth year. The expected enrollment for the research administration program is 30 students in its first year in 2011 with 60 students by its fifth year. For the conservation biology program, the expected enrollment is 10 students in its first year in 2010 and 20 students each year after that. The expected enrollment for the security studies program is five students in 2013 with 20 students in its fifth year.

Scholastic surprises

Although the new programs will attract new students, some are left surprised at the decision to establish 22 new degree programs, as it is a costly move.

"The decision on how to fund these programs was made absolutely correctly by not using stimulus money, but by the money allotted by the state, and [it] will be an excellent addition to the university," Waldrop said.

Regardless of where the money comes from, some feel the BOT should not be spending money on new programs when it cut four programs in 2009 to save money.

Susan Gosnell, was the radiologic program director at UCF in 2009 when the cardiopulmonary sciences and radiologic sciences from the College of Health and Public Affairs program was cut; she said she put her heart and soul into the program and was hurt when she heard about the new degree programs being implemented at UCF.

"It was a difficult blow. I wasn't informed of my program's cut until 10 minutes before it went public," Gosnell said. "And now it is a slap in the face. I feel like they lied to us when they said my program's cut was due to budgeting reasons. It did not save them that much money closing it down and now they are spending a lot for these new programs."

Since leaving UCF, Gosnell has found a career as a radiologic and imaging sciences professor at Valencia Community College and is happy with her new job, but she will never get back what she put into UCF's radiologic program.