SLIPPERY ROCK — Slippery Rock University could soon begin offering a master of science in data analytics.

SRU’s council of trustees on Friday agreed to forward the program proposal to Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education board of governors for approval.

The program, if approved, would prepare students to work in the growing field of big data analytics, use data analysis methods, use predictive modeling and maintain data security.

“This is a program that is well-researched and prepared by our mathematics department, part of the College of Health, Environment and Science, and certainly is both a growing profession today — and tomorrow,” said Provost Philip Way. “The numbers are clear. If all of the approvals are obtained, we could begin offering classes in spring next year,” Way said.

As proposed, the program would be aligned with standards established by professional certification programs, granting graduates joint certification in statistical applications and data analytics from SRU and the Statistical Analysis System Institute for advanced analytics.

SAS is one of the most widely used software platforms in the world for performing data analytics and statistical analysis.

If approved, SRU would become one of only 30 institutions in the U.S. offering the SAS certification.

Initial plans call for the 10-month program to offer a hybrid of face-to-face classes at the Regional Learning Alliance in Cranberry Township and online course.

The program will use SRU’s math, computer science and business faculty. Graduates can expect to find jobs in such areas as finance, business, health care, data science, service optimization, public health epidemiology, biostatistics and companies, and Web analytics that make extensive use of statistics, such as insurance.

The trustees also:

n Increased fees for the Smith Student Center, health services and housing, effective in the fall. Dining costs will increase 2.99 percent according to the contract with AVI.

The student center fee will increase by $12 per semester, the health fee by $10.50 per semester, housing fees for those living in Rhodes and North halls will increase 2 percent.

The actual cost of the housing and dining fee per student is dependent upon the type of housing and food plan selected.

n Authorized the submission of the 2015-16 fiscal year Capital Budget Plan. The plan is SRU’s funding request sent to the state system citing its capital improvement project priorities.

Updates to the previously submitted report seeks $1.8 million for work on McKay Education Building in 2015-16, $18.2 million for renovation of the University Union as a new Student Success Center for fiscal year 2016-17, and $11.2 million for replacement of the campus electrical infrastructure in 2019-20.

n Honored Barbara Ender, who retires Friday. for her seven years service as vice president of University advancement.

She was thanked for her work in revitalizing the development efforts at SRU.

The commendation noted that under her “tutelage, annual gift income has increased each successive year since 2009, surpassing $3 million in 2014, and for serving as the architect for developing and implementing the Campus Family Campaign, which improved campuswide participation in ‘giving back’ from 24 percent to 60 percent.”