Development of Joint Online Biotechnology Industry Speaker Series and Special Topic Courses

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2 ABSTRACT Development of Joint Online Biotechnology Industry Speaker Series and Special Topic Courses In conjunction with CSU San Marcos and San Jose State University, CSU Channel Islands seeks funding to develop a biotechnology industry speaker series and a group of online graduatelevel courses to expand and complement existing MS Biotechnology degree programs at multiple campuses. The development and successful implementation of these advanced online courses is a natural fit with the CSU Commission on the Extended University s objective to meet California s economic workforce and development needs, encourage innovation and collaboration across the CSU system, while using distance learning technologies where appropriate. Commission funds have previously supported biotechnology efforts at both CSU Channel Islands and CSU San Marcos. Commission funds were first used at CSU Channel Islands in to develop and launch a professional MS degree in Biotechnology and Bioinformatics creating opportunities for work in high paying jobs within the biotechnology industry, while addressing regional workforce needs. Linkages to industry in Ventura County were successfully made through the collection of data about workforce trends and the creation of an advisory board. In , the Commission funded the development of a dual MS Biotechnology and MBA degree program. In fall 2009, 146 students were enrolled in the MS Biotechnology and Bioinformatics and MS BiotechnologyMBA Dual Degree programs. CSU San Marcos received funding in to develop an MS Biotechnology program. Overall, Commission funding thus far of these biotechnology projects has greatly benefited the two regions in a very short amount of time. As the only fouryear public university in Ventura County, CSU Channel Islands is committed to developing educational programs that meet the needs of the region including local businesses. The University proposes to continue working closely with the biotechnology industry in the region, and statewide through partner CSU campuses, to codevelop educational programs that help create a highlyskilled California workforce. These collaborative efforts will contribute to the CSU s development of cuttingedge biotechnology curricula reflective of industry needs that have broad accessibility through an online platform. Online delivery for this industry expert speaker series and a collection of special topic courses providing an additional selection of electives to specialize within the biotechnology field is especially appropriate given the constraints of professionals working in the field. The participating campuses will share lessons learned from piloting this program with other CSU campuses, and disseminate results throughout the greater higher education professional community.

3 I. PROJECT DESCRIPTION: NEED The single most important factor in developing successful professional science master s degrees (PSM) is encouraging and maintaining a close partnership with industry and building a solid academic reputation. CSU Channel Islands has discovered from student surveys (CAEL) that the academic reputation of the California State University (CSU) system among employees at biotechnology companies is a primary challenge in the recruitment of students. These young, midlevel staff members often come from research one institutions and make assumptions about the quality of the CSU science education arising from research institution biases. The primary way that CSU Channel Islands has overcome this inaccurate perception of inferior academic quality is through creating a strong linkage to industry in curriculum development and instruction. However, one obstacle to forging industry partnerships for professional science master degree programs at the CSU is gaining adequate access to highly qualified adjunct faculty and guest speakers. This proposal is designed to improve the overall academic quality of CSU biotechnology programs by pooling collective campus resources and linkages to regional industry. The CSU is well positioned in regions with great biotechnology activity: the San Francisco Bay area, Ventura County, and San Diego. California is the birthplace of biotechnology and currently has approximately twice the number of industry firms as the next comparable state, employing 100,000 workers. In San Jose State University s region, there are a total of 164 biotechnology firms located in Alameda, Contra Costa, and Solano Counties, employing nearly 15,000 workers. In San Diego, an estimated 36,600 employees work at about 500 companies. Ventura County has the world s largest biotechnology company, Amgen, employing 9,000 people. Ceres and Seminis, in Thousand Oaks and Oxnard, are affiliated with Page 1 of 10

4 Monsanto, the world s largest agricultural biotechnology company. Multinational biotechnology companies such as Baxter and Invitrogen also reside in Ventura County, along with many small and midsized biotech firms. The CSU faces two major challenges in building biotechnology programs: 1) lack of faculty resources, and 2) Lack of professional science master s degrees programs that are accommodating to working adults. As the biotechnology industry in general grows within California there is need for specialized, hightechnology curricula which is difficult for individual campuses to develop and constantly upgrade independently. Additionally, the primary target of advanced biotechnology education is those already working in the industry, as well as, other professionals desiring to make a change in career path. As with other fullyemployed adult learners, the convenience that online learning brings is a necessity for students pursing advanced degrees. Furthermore, some specific areas of concentration within the biotechnology discipline may initially have limited interest within a specific region. The offering of such courses statewide would increase the likelihood of sufficient course enrollment. Overall, creating a pooled group of special topic online graduate biotechnology courses that students at various CSU campuses could add to their course of study would greatly enhance the collective resources of the CSU and aid the effort to build PSM degree programs within the system. Similarly, a series involving highlevel biotechnology experts on current topics in the industry would raise the reputation and quality of PSM degree programs throughout the CSU. Page 2 of 10

5 GOALS, OBJECTIVES AND OUTCOMES In conjunction with CSU San Marcos (CSUSM), San Jose State University (SJSU), and other interested CSU campuses, CSU Channel Islands proposes to develop and offer a distance learning format industry lecture series and a group of online biotechnology graduate courses that can be shared by all CSU campuses. Built upon the existing degree programs, this speaker series and the online courses aim to augment and enhance the professional science master s degree curricula to ensure that the CSU provides managers, scientists and technologists education aligned with industry and future societal demands. The lecture series is intended for graduate students, as well as, for interested professionals on a noncredit basis. With the cooperation of participating campuses, speakers will be drawn from industry throughout the state, as well as, nationally and internationally. As is practical, the ownership and coordination of the series will be rotated among the campuses. In addition to the speaker series, we propose funding for specific online courses that can be shared by graduate programs. The additional availability of a selection of specific topic courses offered online through the CSU would significantly enhance every PSM degree program in the system. Practical administrative issues will be addressed, but the general notion is for the sponsoring campus to allow enrollment in online courses as nonmatriculated students and pay fees to that campus. The campus in which the student has matriculated would then accept the transfer credit, usually as an elective course. Specific topics and faculty developers will be identified. Initial subject areas for consideration include the following: Bioinformatics Regulatory Affairs Page 3 of 10

6 Pharmacology & Toxicology Project Management Biotechnology Law and Regulation This innovative multicampus proposal addresses four of the Commission s strategic objectives: 1. Meet California s economic and workforce development needs: By developing educational programs that meet the workforce needs of biotechnology industries throughout California. 2. Increase access to education opportunities by serving broader constituencies: By designing online speakers series and courses that benefit underserved industry populations and that can be accessed by other CSU campuses. 3. Develop alternative instructional delivery systems: By using the Internet to deliver high technology teachinglearning experiences. 4. Encourage cooperation among CSU campuses: By jointly developing and sharing a speaker series and online courses. Additionally, the proposed program would also advance the CSU Commitment #8 as set forth in the Access to Excellence strategic plan which calls for the CSU to Act on the CSU's responsibility to meet postbaccalaureate needs, including those of working professionals. The goal of this multicampus proposal is to develop and offer a distance learning format industry lecture series and a group of online biotechnology graduate courses that can be shared by all CSU campuses. CSU Channel Islands (project lead) and partner campuses (CSUSM & SJSU) will achieve this goal by meeting the following objectives: 1. Coordinate a development team from participating campuses to conduct regional and statewide biotech industry needs assessments of professional education needs for existing Page 4 of 10

7 staff and the entrylevel workforce in the bioinformatics field and identify speakers/courses appropriate for online delivery format; 2. Develop and design a rigorous academic program with an appropriate curriculum and define its learning outcomes to address the needs of the target populations; 3. Deliver outreach programs to a target population currently limited in its ability to participate in the conventional CSU educational programs as a result of their job demands and physical location; 4. Utilize instructional methodology and course features specific (or appropriate) for online learning and interaction; and, 5. Develop project summary reports for CSU systemwide and statewide dissemination. The desired outcomes for the above objectives are to: 1. Collaboration with the local biotech industries by convening a planning task force that includes members from industry; 2. a speaker series and group of online graduatelevel courses that meet biotech industry needs; 3. Implementation of a coordinated CSU multicampus online program that serves the targeted diverse working adult population; and, 4. Dissemination of this collaborative online model at collaborative workshops/conferences and through publications and reports. Page 5 of 10

8 II. IMPLEMENTATION PLAN: JULY 2009 JUNE 2010 Phase 1: Participation from Industry It is vital to the success of the proposed program that regional biotechnology businesses give input at all phases of program development. The University will establish a planning group and disseminate a survey to local business, and nationally, to ascertain their anticipated employment and professional development/continuing education needs to integrate into the curriculum development phase. Phase 2: Online Curriculum Development Develop a cuttingedge biotechnology online speaker series and set of special topic courses that meet industry needs as identified in survey results as well as through input collected from planning group members. The participating campuses will develop learning objectives, course syllabi and associated online course materials and activities. To accomplish this, participating campuses will work collaboratively, not only with the faculty members in multiple disciplines, but also with scientists and business managers and experts in biotechnology from the statewide biotechnology industries. The proposed program will be designed to offer flexibility to students and participating industry professionals. Phase 3: Regional Continuing Education Opportunities To fulfill the gap that no other comprehensive university in California is providing by offering continuing education opportunities in the fields of biotechnology at the Master s level. Therefore, the third phase of the proposed program is to strategically reach out to regional businesses and collaboratively market and recruit potential students to participate in the speaker series and online courses. Phase 4: Reproduction and Dissemination To disseminate the program model within the CSU system is the final phase of the proposed program. CSU Channel Islands and the participating campuses will use professional conference and meeting venues to disseminate Page 6 of 10

9 lessons learned from the development of this program. The University will actively assist other CSU campuses in adopting and implementing the models to serve their prospective regions. TIMELINE CSU Channel Islands and partner campuses will accomplish the program goals by meeting the following objectives and outcomes within the stated timeframe. OBJECTIVES OUTCOMES TIMELINE 1. Setup a planning group and develop and disseminate a survey to biotech businesses to collect input about topics and format for the proposed speaker series and group of online courses. Form a planning group Online surveys disseminated and returned to CSU Channel Islands Feedback from the surveys will be integrated in the design and development of the speaker series and online course development July 1, 2009 August 31, Design and develop curricula and learning objectives for the speaker series and online courses 3. Develop and implement a collaborative marketing, outreach and recruitment plan. 4. Develop a website and written reports as a vehicle for disseminating the program model within the CSU system. Design first speaker series and six online courses Offer first speaker series starting January, 2009 Design of speaker series brochure Design of online course brochure University representatives will attend professional conferences to share lessons learned and to assist other CSU campuses in launching similar programs July 1, 2009 December 31, 2009 July 1, 2009 September 1, 2009 July July 30, 2011 As opportunities are available. The following is a table of key personnel responsible for the implementation of associated activities including assignment of roles. Page 7 of 10

10 TIMELINE KEY PERSONNEL ACTIVITY REPLICATION July 09 ChingHua Wang Convene a planning Collaborating with University Gary Berg group advisory boards and SJSU representative Develop and community partners to CSUSM representative disseminate surveys disseminate the survey to local to biotech companies biotech industries. August 09 Multicampus Faculty: Analyze data for the Publish data on the University Biology & Computer curriculum design website for other CSU Science and development campuses and regional biotech phase businesses. September 2009 May 2010 Multicampus Faculty: Biology & Computer Science Develop online speaker series Develop 6 online Upload the syllabi onto the campus websites. Industry experts: courses Biotechnology & Computer science April 2010 ChingHua Wang Coordinate strategic Collaborate with internal and Gary Berg planning meeting for external groups to inform the marketing and local biotech industries and recruitment their staff members of the Develop marketing program and potential and outreach opportunities for their experts materials in teaching some of the courses for the program. Post outreach and marketing materials on campus websites and in local business news papers, and send to local biotech companies. June 2010 ChingHua Wang Hire instructors to Share speaker resources as SJSU representative teach in fall 2010 appropriate. CSUSM representative Page 8 of 10

11 July 2010 ChingHua Wang Write summary Disseminate the report Gary Berg report information. SJSU representative CSUSM representative III. PROJECT IMPACT The potential longterm impact of this cuttingedge biotechnology online speaker series and group of special topic graduate courses on California s diverse workforce is significant. The participating CSU campuses will provide much needed professional education to underserved populations and industries and produce graduates that will have developed analytical, managerial and interpersonal skills along with a sophisticated expertise in biotechnology and bioinformatics. The program will make an important contribution to the effort of producing a wider range and level of trained scientists and technologists that are aligned with biotech industry needs and future societal demands. LETTERS OF COMMITMENT Letters of commitment have been secured from the CSU Channel Islands, CSU San Marcos, and San Jose State University (see attachments; additional letters of support will follow submission of the grant). Matching funds in support of the project will be provided by the CSU Channel Islands Dean of Extended Education. REPLICATION AND DISSEMINATION Please see the above table with specific information regarding replication and dissemination. This proposed program is a collaborative effort among three CSU campuses, with the open invitation for participation from additional campuses. After completion of the program, conventional and digital means will be used to disseminate the findings broadly throughout the higher education community. Page 9 of 10

12 EVALUATION PLAN CSU Channel Islands will evaluate the success of the proposed program in serving the needs of students and employers and summarize in a written report. For more details on program outcomes please refer to pages 67 of the proposal narrative. SUSTAINABILITY PLAN The online speaker series and graduatelevel courses will be sustained by student fees coming from current MS Biotechnology students and nonmatriculated students. The host campus of the course will collect fees directly and be responsible for all associated expenses. However, startup funding is necessary for planning and development in order to successfully launch this multicampus online PSM degree program. Page 10 of 10

13 Division of Academic Affairs Extended Education March 4, 2009 ChingHua Wang, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Immunology and Microbiology CSU Channel Islands One University Drive Camarillo, CA Dear Dr. Wang, I am writing to verify my formal and financial support of your application for funding from the CSU Commission on the Extended University to develop an online speaker series and individual courses. As Dean of Extended Education I am in frequent communications with local biotechnology companies and I know that they will welcome such a program for their current and future employees. I am especially happy that this proposal encourages collaboration with other CSU campuses. I appreciate your foresight and responsiveness to the workforce needs of industry throughout the state of California. Sincerely, Gary A. Berg, PhD Dean of Extended Education One University Drive, Camarillo, California Tel: (805) Fax: (805)

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16 March 4, 2009 ChingHua Wang, MD, PhD Professor, Chair, Biology Program Director of the MS in Biotechnology and Bioinformatics Program Aliso Hall Room 204 CSU Channel Islands One University Drive Camarillo, CA Dear Ching, I am very supportive of developing online courses that could serve Professional Science Masters (PSM) programs throughout the CSU. I currently teach a graduatelevel, onsite course in Pharmacology and Toxicology for our PSM program in Biotechnology and would be very enthusiastic about developing this course into an online offering. Please let me know if I can provide any other information in support of the grant proposal to the CSU Commission. Sincerely, Sally Veragge Sally Veregge, PhD Professor and Director Professional Science Master of Biotechnology Program San Jose State University San Jose, CA sveregge@ .sjsu.edu

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18 CSU Channel Islands PI: ChingHua Wang Period: July 1, 2009 June 30, 2010 Page 1 California State University Commission on the Extended University 2009/2010 RFP Budget Source of Funds CEE Grant Request Local Funds (Source A) Other Funds (Source B) Project Total FACULTY & STAFF Salaries & Wages (3Unit Biology Faculty Release) 7,500 7,500 SALARIES & WAGES BENEFITS (38.3% ) 2,873 2,873 STUDENT HELP SUPPLIES Project Supplies SERVICES Consultants (coordination of speaker series/course creation) 7 X 5,000 35,000 35,000 Hospitality (Planning Meetings) Online Services (licensing) 5,000 5,000 10,000 TRAVEL Local Mileage MATERIALS Program Materials (design and printing for digital and print marketing, surveys, reports, etc) 9,000 2,550 11,550 Postage for distribution of program materials 1,000 1,000 MISCELLANEOUS computer software (supports online courses) 2,400 2,400 Totals 50,000 21,203 71,203

19 CSU Channel Islands Development of Joint Online Biotechnology Industry Speaker Series and Special Topic Courses PI: Dr. ChingHua Wang Project Year: BUDGET NARRATIVE FACULTY & STAFF 7,500 in Faculty Salary is committed as cash match to provide Biology Faculty a 3unit course equivalent during the 0910 Academic Year. This individual will coordinate the project, prepare the short and long forms for approval by internal academic planning committees, present curriculum to curriculum committees and other university committees as appropriate, convene and facilitate Planning Meetings, collect and analyze data, develop assessment and evaluation plans, and oversee fiscal management of the grant funds. SALARIES & WAGES BENEFITS CSUCI s 38.3% fringe benefits rate is applied to the Faculty Salary during the academic year only. Summer Salary is exempt from benefits cost. 7,500 Faculty Salary, plus 38.3% benefits = 2,873 committed as cash match. STUDENT HELP SUPPLIES 400 is committed as cash match for program supplies and planning meeting supplies. SERVICES Course Design / Speaker Series Consultants: 35,000 is requested on grant funds for consultants to provide course design and development of the speaker series. 5,000 per course / series x 7 = 35,000. Hospitality: 480 is committed as cash match for hospitality at Planning Meetings, approximately 95 per meeting x 5 meetings = 480. Online Services: 5,000 is requested on grant funds, and an additional 5,000 is committed as cash match for online services (Webx online licensing and hosting) for online courses. TRAVEL MATERIALS Page 1 of 2

20 CSU Channel Islands Development of Joint Online Biotechnology Industry Speaker Series and Special Topic Courses PI: Dr. ChingHua Wang Project Year: BUDGET NARRATIVE Program Materials Professional Design and Printing: 9,000 is requested on grant funds, and 2,550 committed as cash match to hire a professional designer and printing of program materials, including reports and promotional materials. Postage: 1,000 is requested on grant funds for postage / distribution of program materials. MISCELLANEOUS 2,400 is committed as cash match to purchase computer software required to support the online courses. TOTAL BUDGET REQUEST: 50,000 (70.22% of project total) TOTAL MATCH COMMITMENT: 21,203 (29.78% of project total) PROJECT TOTAL: 71,203 Page 2 of 2