Sixth Assessment of the Science, Engineering, and Math Infrastructure at Three Universities in Kansas

Executive Summary

Phase II of the NSF EPSCoR funding has begun, and the state has renewed its efforts to improve its competitive position. However, maintaining past gains has proven to be a challenge. The chart, The Universities at a Glance for 1996 for Science, Engineering and Math, at the end of this executive summary gives an overview of the current situation for Kansas. Data concerned with faculty, enrollment, and degrees awarded are reported for annual year 1996. Grant data are reported for fiscal year 1995. Current assessment revealed several important findings.

• The number of SEM faculty fell by three percent in academic year 1996 compared to 1995. The largest number decreases were seen at KSU.

• The number of women and minority SEM faculty continued to be above 1991 levels, but showed little change over 1995 levels.

• The number of professors and assistant professors was lower in 1996 than in 1995, which may have a negative impact upon research and grant productivity.

• The number of post doctoral positions increased by twelve percent from 1995 to 1996 and by 62 percent from 1991 to 1996.

• Faculty salaries continue to be lower than those paid at peer institutions.

• SEM graduate enrollment was two percent higher than 1995 levels and seven percent above 1991 levels. The number of engineering graduate students fell seven percent from 1995 to 1996. However, engineering enrollment in 1996 was 22 percent above the 1991 levels while science was only one percent above the 1991 levels.

• The number of women enrolled in SEM graduate programs increased in 1995 while minority enrollment remained the same.

• The number of graduate students receiving financial support in the form of teaching assistantships or research assistantships was lower than the previous year while graduate enrollment increased leading to a decline in the percent of graduate students receiving financial support.

• NSF dollars (excluding NSF EPSCoR) awarded to the state increase but only slightly (three percent) and actually declined (-0.2 percent) when adjusted for inflation.

• The number and dollars awarded by all funding sources has declined for the past two years (FY 1994 and FY 1995).

The 1996 data revealed declines in the number of professors, assistant professors, academic staff, directors and technical staff, and graduate teaching assistants. Declines in faculty were explained by

• a hiring freeze in 1994 at the University of Kansas due to budget restrictions,
• a decrease in federal funding for agricultural programs at Kansas State University,
• an increase in the hiring of temporary (adjunct) faculty to fill tenure track positions at Kansas State University, and
• selective replacement of vacant positions due to a decline in total enrollment at Wichita State University.

  Previous EPSCoR assessments suggested that the lifting of hiring freezes would be followed with increases in the number of faculty and consequently the number of students accepted into graduate programs. It was argued that with more faculty personnel hired, the number of grants submitted and funded would improve which would also increase the number of student research assistants that can be supported.

  However, it may still be too early to see much improvement from the lifting of hiring freeze at the University of Kansas. And, it appears that the hiring practices for faculty at Kansas State University and Wichita State University do not support an increase in faculty. Kansas continued to see a decline in the number of grants submitted and awarded in 1995. While the 1996 data does show improvement in graduate enrollment, it also shows declines in SEM personnel, particularly faculty and graduate teaching assistants. If the hiring practices were responsible for the declines seen in the 1995 infrastructure and still prevalent in the 1996 infrastructure, then past improvements in Kansas' competitive position may indeed be very fragile. The state must focus upon protecting gains made during the first three years of NSF EPSCoR and encouraging growth in key areas such as number of faculty, graduate enrollment, and graduate student support that will drive future growth.

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