University Now
Initiative:
Planning for a Thriving
Higher Education
Ecosystem
City of Chula Vista and
Southwestern Community College District
Research Study
Overview of UNI:
Academic Program Planning Study
Mapping
Academic
Programs to
Workforce
Needs
Identify
Priority
Occupations
& Academic
Program
Assess
Opportunities
for Expanding
Higher
Education
Ecosystem
White
Paper
Academic and Workforce Needs Assessment
San Diego
Regional
Policy &
Innovation
Center
Survey of
Employers
(Regional, Baja
& Orange
County)
Analysis of
Workforce
Needs:
Priority
Occupations
Analysis of
Academic
Needs
(Regional &
Baja)
Focus
Groups with
Regional
Business
Leaders
Representative
Survey of
San Diego
County
Residents
Academic and Workforce Needs
Assessment Findings
Fields of
interest:
business,
technology,
healthcare &
the arts
Importance
of technical
and soft
skills
40% of South
County residents
expressed interest
in enrolling in a
bachelor’s degree
program within the
next two years
(27% county)
Identified priority
occupations
(including future-
adjusted list) and
needed/high-
demand
academic
programs
SWC/UCSD
Faculty
Research
University
Partner
Consultation
Listening
Sessions
Refining Research Results and Community Engagement
Academic Program Planning Priorities
Consider Key
Sectors/
Industries
Alongside
Community
Interests
Noncompete
Structure for
University
Program
Expansion
Critical to
Partner with
SWC &
University
Faculty on
Academic
Programs
Clear
Communication
on Funding
Realities for
Expansion &
New
Programming
Emphasis for
Binational,
Bilingual &
Bicultural
Programs
Partner with
Universities like
National
University to
Develop SWC
Faculty
(Doctoral
Degrees)
1 2 3 4 5 6
Workforce-Aligned Degrees for
Recruitment/Expansion Consideration
Nursing Public
Health
Public
Administration
& Public Policy
Education Business
Admin:
Marketing
Analytics
STEM:
Engineering
Computer
Science/AI
Film,
Television &
Media Arts
Conservation
& Resource
Studies
Recommended Priority Degree Programs for
Recruitment/Expansion
Nursing Conservation
& Resource
Studies
Public Health
Film &
Media Art
Baccalaureate Program Opportunities at SWC
Supporting Priority Occupations
Transborder
Building Design,
Technology, and
Urbanism
(TBDT&U)
Architecture
Music,
emphasis in
Mariachi
English,
emphasis on
Teaching English
to Speakers of
Other Languages
(TESOL)
Allied Health
Administration
Interactive
Design
“Forward Action” Considerations for Building
UNI’s Higher Education Ecosystem
Strategic
Framework for
Developing a
Multi-Campus
University Center
in Chula Vista
Purpose is to
continue the
momentum spurred
by the work of the
UNI focusing on
efforts to develop
the University and
Innovation District
Forward Action Options to Consider
Governance:
Joint Powers
Authority
or Special
Purpose
District
Implementation:
Phased approach
with strong
leadership
Positioning the
university as a
leader in cross-
border and
transnational
education
Attracting
institutions and
fostering
regional
development
Funding:
Mixed funding
model with EIFD
and PPPs
Balanced Strategy Outcome
THANK YOU
Receive University Now Initiative White
Paper developed by Southwestern
Community College District and the
University Now Initiative Committee through
an agreement with the City of Chula Vista.
ITEM 8.3 RECOMMENDATION