Positioning of the research-doctorate programs in the American higher education market: Universities offering electrical and compuer engineering programs at the west region

The purpose of this study is to visualize positioning of the research-doctoral programs in the American three dimensional higher education market structure. This study is a secondary analysis of data by the National Research Council, A Data-Based Assessment of Research-Doctorate Programs in the United States (2011). This database assess doctoral programs with three-dimensional indicators, those are Research Activity, Student Support & Outcomes, and Diversity. This means that we can postulate research-doctoral programs in the America have positioning in search of niche in the three-dimensional higher education market structure. IR officers develop their management plan for positioning in this market structure. Prospective doctoral student make an attendance choice with the positioning of programs in this market structure. In this study, the positioning visualize to the 27 universities which offer the Electronical and Computer Engineering programs that is one of a subfield of Engineering at the West region. As the threshold of 80-position of the research activities, it is possible to divide the universities into two groups: Group 1 and Group2. Group1 is research-oriented universities. There is correlation between research productivity and education productivity. Group2 is education-oriented universities. There are many state universities and there are no correlation between research productivity and education productivity. As to Diversity, there are universities at both Groups. It seems to, however, universities that diversity is at upper rank are also Student Support & Outcomes is at upper rank.