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The Alfred P. Sloan
Foundation has awarded the California State University a second major
grant – of $474,000 – to support CSU’s Professional Science Master’s (PSM)
programs, including a Fresno State program.
Regarded as one of the most important innovations in higher education,
the PSM programs prepare a scientifically trained, business oriented
workforce for the biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, electronics, and
energy industries, as well as government. Cal State’s PSM programs
operate in partnership with industry and respond to the significant need
for science professionals with specialized training in California’s
leading science and technology sectors.
“Our graduates are highly
trained in science and technology while understanding the business
applications of that knowledge,” said CSU Chancellor Charles B. Reed.
“They operate as comfortably in the lab as in business settings.”
CSU plans to train some 1,050
science and technology professionals over the next five years with
students receiving degrees in biotechnology, bioinformatics,
environmental sciences, biostatistics, forensic science, computational
science, biomedical science, medical product development management, and
genetic counseling.
The Sloan Foundation helped to finance the CSU system-wide expansion of
the PSM programs with a grant of $891,000 in December 2006 in an effort
to increase the number of professionals in these areas. The CSU now has
more than a dozen programs in place or underdevelopment and plans to
have at least 30 programs on 18 CSU campuses. These programs are
designed to produce workers for the biomedical, computer science,
environmental, and other high growth fields. Professionals with this
training have the competitive edge in the global economy and are in high
demand in industry and the public sector.
Cal State’s PSM strategy shares the goals of the U.S. American
Competitiveness Initiative to promote excellence in science and
technology and provide 21st century skills to keep America competitive.
Last year, through the America COMPETES Act, Congress authorized $73
million for programs that respond to these goals and for which CSU PSM
programs would be eligible.
Recognizing the significance of training in these fields, Abbott
recently provided funding to help launch a new PSM program in medical
product development management at San José State University.
"The CSU is a vast resource
for California's technical workforce. It has created new and specific
instructional programs in emerging areas critical for California's
economy and has kept pace with the evolution of the biomedical research
and manufacturing industries," said David Gollaher, president and Chief
Executive Officer of the California Healthcare Institute.
According to Stan Glasgow, president and Chief Operating Officer of Sony
Electronics, the PSM programs are critical, for firms like Sony, to
retain jobs in California.
“In order to keep our facilities here, we must be able to recruit the
talent that enables us to produce the highest quality products,” Glasgow
said. “We need individuals skilled in applied sciences and technology.
That is precisely what these programs are doing.”
Cal State’s PSM programs have built a strong reputation and are
considered national models. They were featured as the most advanced in
the nation at the National Governor’s Association Professional Science
Master’s Academy held in June in Sacramento. The Academy was comprised
of top higher education and economic policy advisors appointed by U.S.
governors to work in the implementation of PSM programs in their home
states.
CSU campuses currently offering PSM programs or planning them for
2009-10 include:
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CSU Channel Islands:
biotechnology and bioinformatics; biotechnology/MBA
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CSU Chico: environmental
sciences
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CSU Dominguez Hills:
applied biotechnology studies
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CSU East Bay:
biostatistics
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FRESNO STATE:
biotechnology (agricultural); forensic science
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CSU Fullerton: applied
biotechnology studies
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CSU Los Angeles: applied
biotechnology studies
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Cal Poly Pomona: applied
biotechnology studies
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CSU San Bernardino:
environmental sciences
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San Diego State
University: computational science; bioinformatics/medical
informatics
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San Francisco State
University: biomedical science and biotechnology
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San Jose State: master of
biotechnology; medical product development management
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CSU San Marcos:
biotechnology
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CSU Stanislaus: genetic
counseling
The California State
University is the largest system of senior higher education in the
country, with 23 campuses, approximately 450,000 students year round and
46,000 faculty and staff. Since the system was created in 1961, it has
awarded nearly 2.5 million degrees, about 89,000 annually. The CSU is
renowned for the quality of its teaching and for the job-ready graduates
it produces. Its mission is to provide high-quality, affordable
education to meet the ever-changing needs of the people of California.
With its commitment to excellence, diversity and innovation, the CSU is
the university system that is working for California. See
www.calstate.edu.
The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, a philanthropic
nonprofit institution, was established in 1934 by
Alfred Pritchard Sloan,
Jr., then President and Chief Executive Officer of the General
Motors Corporation. It makes grants in science, technology, and the
quality of American life.
www.sloan.org/main.shtml
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