City College of San Francisco - California Competes
City College of San Francisco - California Competes
City College of San Francisco - California Competes
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THEME V<br />
A fifth program, the Stem Cell Research Certificate Program, will begin in Fall 2006 with a grant from the<br />
Governor’s Discretionary Funds. This program will provide participants with the advanced skills needed<br />
to find jobs in the lucrative and rapidly growing field <strong>of</strong> stem cell research.<br />
Organizational means to identify and make public student learning outcomes. The support <strong>of</strong> the Office<br />
<strong>of</strong> Research, Planning and Grants has played a key role in identifying student learning outcomes for the<br />
Biotechnology Program. The Dean <strong>of</strong> Research, Planning and Grants was a moving force in creating the<br />
Biotech program at CCSF. Seeing Tech Prep as a funding source for programs for high-skill occupations,<br />
the Dean made initial contacts with people involved in the biotech industry and worked with the<br />
Biological Sciences and Chemistry Departments to get the program started using Tech Prep funding.<br />
Industry needs are the basis for the program. Student learning outcomes were initially established based<br />
on formal meetings that included industry representatives, high school personnel, university personnel,<br />
and CCSF Biological Sciences and Chemistry faculty. As the program has evolved, it has received continued<br />
support through a variety <strong>of</strong> grants that facilitate keeping in close touch with industry to refine<br />
student learning outcomes goals. Such grants include a State Chancellor’s Office Economic Development<br />
grant, which supports the Northern <strong>California</strong> Biotechnology Center (NCBC) and a National Science<br />
Foundation (NSF) grant which supports Bio-Link, a National Advanced Technological Education (ATE)<br />
Center for Biotechnology, both <strong>of</strong> which are described later.<br />
The intended student learning outcomes for courses <strong>of</strong>fered in the Biotechnology programs are spelled<br />
out in the course outlines. For example, one <strong>of</strong> the major student learning outcomes for Bio 65, one <strong>of</strong><br />
the two courses required for the Biotechnician Certificate, is: “Employ proper methods <strong>of</strong> laboratory report<br />
documentation and presentation including use <strong>of</strong> a computer for data analysis and report generation.”<br />
The Biotechnology faculty reported appreciation for the support they have received from the Office <strong>of</strong><br />
Instruction for developing course outlines and the certificate programs. The Biotechnology Certificate<br />
Catalog description states that “The biotechnology certificate program is designed to prepare students<br />
to work at a biotech company as a technician in quality control, research and development, or<br />
Biomanufacturing.” The Catalog description for the Biomanufacturing certificate states that “The requirements<br />
for the certificate in Biomanufacturing described here will prepare students for entry into the field<br />
as a bio-process technician, media prep technician, pharmaceutical materials specialist, or pharmaceutical<br />
manufacturing technician.” A Biotech Hotline number that prospective students can call for more<br />
information is also listed in the Catalog.<br />
The Biotechnology Program coordinators and the Dean <strong>of</strong> Science and Mathematics have developed a<br />
brochure advertising the Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Certificate programs. The Biotech Career<br />
Chart that is in this brochure is one <strong>of</strong> the most clearly defined career ladders the <strong>College</strong> currently has.<br />
The coordinator <strong>of</strong> the Bridge program produces flyers, brochures, and other information materials to<br />
advertise the program to prospective students. He has made concerted efforts to contact faculty in the<br />
ESL and Transitional Studies Departments to provide materials for them to use to introduce students in<br />
their classes to the program. Although receiving information in class from the instructor in theory is an<br />
effective way <strong>of</strong> reaching students, the Bridge to Biotech Coordinator has found that instructors <strong>of</strong>ten<br />
find it difficult to take time away from coursework to advertise the Bridge program and wishes there were<br />
other ways to advertise the program to CCSF students. The On-Ramp to Biotech program is advertised<br />
through community outreach efforts. A new website is being planned for the Biotech Program and is<br />
intended to be operational in Spring 2005, but <strong>College</strong> support is needed to help revamp the website.<br />
320 CITY COLLEGE OF SAN FRANCISCO