Building the Biotechnology Program at Montgomery College

Building the Biotechnology Program at Montgomery College Dr. Collins Jones Biotechnology Program Director Overview of the Approach • A three stage process (ideally) – communicate with local industry – develop relevant curriculum – recruit students Working with Industry • Define required skill sets • Develop internship opportunities • Ask for program support Discovering Skill Sets • Research local industry • Prepare list of skills based on your knowledge • Request meetings with lab managers / study directors • Share your list and ask / listen - add or delete • Be honest about deliverables Internship Opportunities • Define the goal of an internship – job opportunity, learning opportunity or both • Develop a mutually beneficial model • When possible involve Scientists and Human Resources simultaneously • Keep it simple • Protect your students – duties / time before hire / benefits Program Support • Scholarships • Equipment donation • Disposables (donate or provide funds) – all of the above are tax deductible • Internships • Faculty (guest lecturers - single class) What’s in this for Industry ? • Trained entry level workforce – input into education and training process – practical working skills - less time to productivity – better retention of entry level level employees – contribution to community - good public relations Developing Curriculum • Based on industry input • Consider academic requirements  articulation with 4-year or higher institutions • Define needs space (classrooms / prep room / storage) equipment (~ $18, 000 per bench at MC /other- e.g. BSCs ) personnel [faculty (release time) , lab tech, secretarial staff - in my dreams] Developing the Curriculum Part 2 • Faculty responsibilities – dedicated full time Biotech faculty member – – – – – – – – – teach courses coordinates the program (one person) interact with industry develop curriculum and keep current market the program oversee part-time faculty and lab techs advise students assist with fund raising obtain articulation agreements Developing the Curriculum: Part 3 • Administrator Responsibilities: – support the program • Commit to a full time faculty member for program • run classes below cut-off enrollment numbers (initially) • faculty release time for development and maintenance • adequate space and funding for program • ensure coordination between all involved parties within the college community - single point of contact • support (continuous) marketing Recruitment • What is the market ? – external (not currently enrolled at college) • • • • high school students industry - current employees adults changing careers inadequately trained B.S. and M.S. graduates – internal (current students at college) • chemistry, biology, health science students Recruitment tools Part 1 • Naming your program (e.g. Biotechnology Program – not Laboratory Technician / Assistant) • College Catalog / Counselors • Brochures • Letters • Newspaper advertisements • Classroom presentations – college – high school • Web site Recruitment Tools Part 2 • Class offerings – Scheduled times (allow working people to attend classes - e.g. evening classes) – Guarantees class will run (in beginning) • Scholarships (industry) • Articulation agreements with 4-year and above institutions • Internships to jobs and job benefits Recruitment Challenges • Credibility – perception of community college • Articulation / transferability – a “ terminal degree” • Job opportunities – starting salaries – advancement opportunities • Continuous marketing Lessons Learned (cautions / pitfalls) • Strategic planning – controlled growth - class size vs. resources - poorly trained students can destroy credibility • Single point of contact (especially at beginning) – avoid dilution and confusion - everyone on same page – continuity of instruction and policy – too much help is no help... • Class size – too large cannot be taught successfully Lessons Learned Part 2 • Budget – increase in class size from 10 to 16 students can double or triple costs – initially equipping a lab is expensive • Internships  optional - recognize which students will and will not succeed  honest evaluation is critical for everyone (program, employers, student) • Initial Selectivity with Industry – support those who support you – don’t promise what you can’t deliver Summary of Development of the Biotechnology Program at Montgomery College • Curriculum is industry mandated and adapted to academics • Patience is crucial - 3 years + to growth • Marketing is key to growth • Curriculum development and program maintenance is time intensive • High school recruiting remains a challenge Building a Biotechnology Program: Summary Marketing/ recruitment Curriculum / Delivery Industry support / Rewards Thank you! Dr. Collins Jones Biotechnology Coordinator Montgomery College Germantown MD 301-353-1910 cjones@mc.cc.md.us Growth of Biotechnology Program at Montgomery College BT Enrollment 120 100 100 Students 80 60 40 21 27 14 24 16 3134 2832 75 59 35 Spring Fall Projected 20 0 1 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 Academic Year Biotechnology Courses at Montgomery College • • • • • • • • • BT 101 Introduction to Biotechnology BT 115 Instrumentation for Biotechnology BT 117 Cell Culture and Cell Function BT 200 Protein Biotechnology BT 204 Immunology and Immunological Methods BT 213 Nucleic Acid Methods BT 220 Biotechnology Practicums BT ??? Introduction to Bioinformatics BT ??? Principles of Manufacturing for Biotechnology Distribution of Students in Biotechnology Courses Number of Students in BT Classes 11% 25% 22% BT 101 BT 117 BT 204 BT 213 BT 217 21% 21% Employment Status of Montgomery College Biotechnology Students 44 33 23 50 40 % 30 20 10 0 Working in BT Working but not BT Not Working Breakdown of Marketing Success for Recruitment of Students 40 30 % 20 10 Letter Mailed by College Fall Schedule BT faculty Brochure Catalog 0