Appendix C

THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA

Request for Authorization to Establish a New Degree Program

INSTRUCTIONS: Please submit five copies of the proposal to the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, UNC Office of the President. Each proposal should include a 2-3 page executive summary. The signature of the Chancellor is required.

Date: 3/24/03

Constituent Institution: North Carolina State University

CIP Discipline Specialty Title: Biological Sciences/Life Sciences

CIP Discipline Specialty Number: 26.04 Level: M

Exact Title of the Proposed Degree: Master of Microbial Biotechnology

Exact Degree Abbreviation (e.g. B.S., B.A., M.A., M.S., Ed.D., Ph.D.): M.M.B.

Does the proposed program constitute a substantive change as defined by SACS? No

a) Is it at a more advanced level than those previously authorized? No

b) Is the proposed program in a new discipline division? No

Proposed date to establish degree program (allow at least 3-6 months for proposal review):

8/03

Do you plan to offer the proposed program away from campus during the first year of operation? No

If so, complete the form to be used to request establishment of a distance education program and submit it along with this request.

I. Description of the Program

A.  Describe the proposed degree program (i.e., its nature, scope, and intended audience).

The proposed Professional Master’s degree program in Microbial Biotechnology (MMB) is an interdisciplinary program developed by the Department of Microbiology, the Biotechnology Program, and the College of Management. It is anticipated that graduates of this program will become highly valued technical managers in biotechnology companies in North Carolina and the Southeast.

B.  List the educational objectives of the program.

The proposed program aims provide students with training in three areas directly relevant to the biotechnology industry: These include the theoretical basis for the role of microorganisms as the workhorses of biotechnology; intensive laboratory training in the molecular techniques involved in microbial biotechnology; and a comprehensive MBA-level introduction into the management of money, people, processes and information. This intensive curriculum will be anchored by an innovative and “identity-building” case-study course and will be supplemented with an internship program involving local biotechnology companies.

C. Describe the relationship of the program to other programs currently offered at the proposing institution, including the common use of: (1) courses, (2) faculty, (3) facilities, and (4) other resources.

There are currently no other programs offered by NCSU that involve the same combination of course work, laboratory and internship experience in the biotechnology arena. The proposed program is built upon a large number of existing courses from divergent disciplines in a structured program aimed at generating “industry-ready” graduates. As such, the program will utilize existing faculty, courses and facilities.

II. Justification for the Program—Narrative Statement

A. Describe the proposed program as it relates to:

1.  The institutional mission and strategic plan:

The proposed program fits well into the University's mission, academic programs, and resources. As a land-grant university, NCSU has well-established strengths in agriculture and is on the forefront of modern developments in many areas of the biological sciences that are exploited by the biotechnology industry. The proposed program builds on the University's existing strengths in these areas and combines this with the skills necessary for graduates to operate and succeed in a commercial rather than academic or research environment. This program provides the opportunity for NCSU to train the managerial mainstays of this industry and to make a much-needed contribution to the workforce of the most rapidly growing technology sector of the State’s economy. The ability of the University to graduate consistently high quality graduates well-versed in both technical and managerial aspects of biotechnology is expected to provide an invaluable resource that will directly affect the ability of North Carolina to attract and retain biotechnology companies.

2.  Student demand

It is anticipated that students will be drawn from one of several groups. A portion of the students are expected to be drawn from recent graduates from the various biotechnologically-oriented undergraduate programs (e.g. Microbiology, Biochemistry, and Biological, Animal and Food Sciences) at NCSU and other local Universities. Like other professional degrees such as Master’s of Business Adminstration (MBA), an equal or larger portion of the students are also expected to be drawn from current employees in the local biotechnology sector. This program is will be attractive to these students as a mechanism for career development within in the biotechnology industry.

3.  Societal need (For graduate, first professional, and baccalaureate professional programs, cite manpower needs in North Carolina and elsewhere.)

The biotechnology industry is one of the most rapidly growing industrial sectors in North Carolina and elsewhere in the US. Although much of this growth in North Carolina is centered on the Research Triangle Park (RTP) area and environs, the shift in the biotechnology industry towards production rather than basic research is expected to lead to spatial diversification throughout the State, rather than further concentration within RTP and the Research Triangle area. Current estimates provided by the State-funded North Carolina Biotechnology Center indicate the expected growth of the industry in North Carolina over the next decade will require between 2000-3000 new employees per year. Although the majority of these employees will fill production-level positions requiring BS or High-School levels of education, approximately 10% of these positions will require graduates with MS degrees.

4.  Impact on existing undergraduate and/or graduate academic programs of your institution. (e.g., Will the proposed program strengthen other programs? Will it stretch existing resources? How many of your programs at this level currently fail to meet Board of Governors’ productivity criteria? Is there a danger of proliferation of low-productivity degree programs at the institution?)

It is expected that the proposed program will strengthen aspects of both the undergraduate and graduate programs (when relevant) in all of the units participating in the program (Department of Microbiology, Biotechnology Program and College of Business). For example, in the case of the Department of Microbiology it is expected that this program may increase undergraduate enrollment as students come to recognize the career opportunity this program provides and align their undergraduate degrees and courses towards entry into this program. This program is also expected to substantially increase the graduate level enrollment in the Department of Microbiology and will have the added impact of allowing the Department to place less emphasis on enrolling research-based MS students and to place more emphasis on the research training of PhD-level graduate students. The program will not stretch existing resources and is expected to be among the high-productivity degree programs at NCSU.

B. Discuss potential program duplication and program competitiveness.

1.  Identify similar programs offered elsewhere in North Carolina. Indicate the location and distance from the proposing institution. Include a) public and b) private institutions of higher education.

No other comparable programs are offered by either public or private institutions of higher education in North Carolina

2.  Indicate how the proposed new degree program differs from other programs like it in the University. If the program duplicates other UNC programs, explain a) why is it necessary or justified and b) why demand (if limited) might not be met through a collaborative arrangement (perhaps using distance education) with another UNC institution. If the program is a first professional or doctoral degree, compare it with other similar programs in public and private universities in North Carolina, in the region, and in the nation.

The proposed program is structured as a “Professional” degree and therefore has some similarities with other terminal degree programs such as the widely offered MBA and the recently instituted Master of Financial Management program at NCSU. However, beyond this similarity there is no other comparable program with a focus on biotechnology offered by any higher education institutions in North Carolina. A vital and unique aspect of the proposed program is the emphasis on case-studies offered by representatives of local biotechnology companies. These case studies are designed to foster close interaction not only between students and companies, but also between students themselves. These vital interactions would not translate well into a distance-education format.

Several Biotechnology-oriented Professional Master’s degree programs have been established in recent years around the country. Like the proposed program, these other programs focus on selected areas of biotechnology. These programs, along with their main area of focus, are listed below:

Institution Program Title Program Focus

Michigan State University Industrial microbiology Fermentation

Northeastern University Biotechnology Molecular Biology

Oregon State University Applied Biotechnology Molecular Genetics

Pennsylvania State University Biotechnology Biotechnology

San Jose State University Biotechnology General Biotechnology

University of Arizona Applied Biosciences Applied Biology

University of Connecticut Microbial Systems Analysis Microbial production systems

University of South Carolina Biotechnology Plant Biotechnology

C. Enrollment (baccalaureate programs should include only upper division majors, juniors and seniors ).

Headcount enrollment

Show a five-year history of enrollments and degrees awarded in similar programs offered at other UNC institutions (using the format below for each institution with a similar program); indicate which of these institutions you consulted regarding their experience with student demand and (in the case of professional programs) job placement. Indicate how their experiences influenced your enrollment projections.

Similar programs do not exist at other UNC institutions.

Use the format in the chart below to project your enrollment in the proposed program for four years and explain the basis for the projections.

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4

(2003-04) (2004-05) (2005-06) (2006-07)

Full-time 5 15 20 20

Part-time

TOTALS 5 15 20 20

Please indicate the anticipated steady-state headcount enrollment after four years:

Full-time 20 Part-time Total

SCH production (upper division program majors, juniors and seniors only, for baccalaureate programs).

Use the format in the chart below to project the SCH production for four years. Explain how SCH projections were derived from enrollment projections (see UNC website for a list of the disciplines comprising each of the four categories).

Year 01: 5 first-year students

Year 02: 10 first-year students + 5 second year students

Year 03: 10 first-year students + 10 second year students

Year 04: 10 first-year students + 10 second year students

First-year students: 21 CH in Category II

Second-year students: 19 CH in Category II

Year 1 / Student Credit Hours
Program Category / UG / Masters / Doctoral
Category I
Category II / 105
Category III
Category IV
Year 2 / Student Credit Hours
Program Category / UG / Masters / Doctoral
Category I
Category II / 305
Category III
Category IV
Year 3 / Student Credit Hours
Program Category / UG / Masters / Doctoral
Category I
Category II / 400
Category III
Category IV
Year 4 / Student Credit Hours
Program Category / UG / Masters / Doctoral
Category I
Category II / 400
Category III
Category IV

III. Program Requirements and Curriculum

A. Program Planning.

1.  List the names of institutions with similar offerings regarded as high quality programs by the developers of the proposed program.

See list in Section II.B.2.

2.  List other institutions visited or consulted in developing this proposal. Also discuss or append any consultants’ reports, committee findings, and simulations (cost, enrollment shift, induced course load matrix, etc.) generated in planning the proposed program.

Institution Contact Role

Michigan State University Dr. John Merrill Program director

Oregon State University Dr. Stella Coakley Program director

B. Admission. List the following:

1.  Admissions requirements for proposed program (indicate minimum requirements and general requirements).

Applications for admission to the program will be considered by a committee of the program faculty. Students will be selected based on aptitude for both practical laboratory skills and experience, as well as an aptitude for teamwork, writing and presentation skills. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores will be required. A demonstrated grasp of microbiology and/or biological sciences at a high undergraduate level will be required. Undergraduate courses or experience in molecular biology, biochemistry and microbiology will also highly encouraged. International students from non-English speaking countries will be required to provide TOEFL certification.

2.  Documents to be submitted for admission (listing or sample).

Three reference letters

Personal Statement

Transcripts of undergraduate work

GRE and TOEFL scores

C. Degree requirements. List the following:

1.  Total hours required.

The curriculum will consist of a full 2-academic year (Fall and Spring Semester) program with a required internship during the summer session of the first full year. Students will be required to complete a total of 40 credit hours. These courses will include two required 3-credit courses in the Department of Microbiology as well as an approved elective course to be taken in the second year. Students will also be required to complete three laboratory-based courses offered by the Biotechnology program. These will include the required Core Techniques in Molecular and Cellular Biology (3 credits) and two other 2-credit courses to be selected from a choice of six available courses. Students will also be required to complete two required 3-credit courses offered by the College of Management as well as at least one other restricted elective course in the business arena. The major course that will anchor the curriculum and will provide a strong identity for students in the program is a novel course, Case Studies In Microbial Biotechnology.

2.  Proportion of courses open only to graduate students to be required in program (graduate programs only).

The program includes one 800 level class, and student electives may include 700 level classes, both of which would require instructor permission for undergraduates. All other courses are open to undergraduates.

3.  Grades required.

Must maintain 3.0 GPA

4.  Amount of transfer credit accepted.

Maximum of 6 hours

5.  Other requirements (e.g. residence, comprehensive exams, thesis, dissertation, clinical or field experience, "second major," etc.).

The program has a required internship during the summer session of the first full year.

6.  Language and/or research requirements.

There are no foreign language requirements for Master’s degrees. A research component might be part of the internship but is not a requirement.