Biotechnology Steering Committee Meeting

Biotechnology Steering Committee Meeting Wednesday, April 18 12pm South Central College Room A165 MINUTES

I) Welcome—Dr. Suzanne Norblom and Renee Guyer welcomed everyone to our meeting and thanked them for taking the time to come today.

II) Introductions- Each person present introduced themselves and indicated their affiliation:  Suzanne Nordblom-SCC Dean of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics  Forrest Izuno, University of Minnesota Southern Research and Outreach Center  Gregg Marg—Minnesota State University, Mankato-Department of Biology  Renee Guyer—South Central College, Department of Biology  Dean Christensen—Pioneer  Julia Zhang—Pioneer  Byoung-Kwan (BK) Kim—MJ Biologics  Sue Steck— South Central College, Department of Biology  Connie Phillips from Camas is still interested in working with us but was unable to attend due to illness.

III) Goals of the Biotechnology program at SCC—Dr. Suzanne Nordblom discussed the goals of the Biotechnology program at SCC. Suzanne started thinking about this alone and didn’t know that there was other interest in the college. Then started thinking about Biotechnology with Biology. Applied for a MnSCU new program development grant. When developing started talking with Renee and Sue. Received $40,000 for research and development. Few months back, southern Minnesota colleges gathered (academic VPs and deans) started talking about collaboration including collaboration in Biotechnology. RCTC Nirmala-putting together meeting for Biotech and Engineering programs to look at partnerships and collaborations. College include SCC, RCTC, MnWest, Riverland, Southeast Community College (Redwing and Winona). In the meantime, we have work for SCC. Goal: develop an A.S. that will articulate with MSU. Goal: develop an AAS degree that will train technicians.

IV) MnSCU Perkins Grant Update—Renee Guyer provided a grant description and discussed activities of the grant. April 15, 2011 we submitted a PERKINS NEW ACADEMIC PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT GRANT to the MnSCU Office of the Chancellor. The grant was for the development of new postsecondary career and technical academic programs. We proposed the development of a 60-credit Biotechnology Associate of Science degree in Biotechnology. June 3, 2011 we were notified we had been awarded the grant. From the grant: Role of Industry Partners: Industry partners will play a strong role in providing support during the program design development and execution phases. They will provide: 1. Curriculum guidance 2. Mentorship 3. Class presentations 4. Guest lectures 5. Advisory board members 6. Subject matter experts 7. Industry tours of facilities As part of the development of this program, this semester I have been traveling to meet with both industry and educational partners. I have met with each of you. Educational meetings included:  RCTC, Biotechnology program  MCTC, Biotechnology program  North Hennepin Community College and their Biochemistry and Biotechnology program with Minnesota State University-Moorhead Renee has spoken with a few individuals from Minnesota West Community College at the Worthington campus. They are currently examining their program and trying to decide what the future of the biotechnology program at Worthington will be. Renee attended the 8th annual Regional Bioscience Conference in Worthington, MN.

Renee has also spoken with a few individuals from Anoka-Ramsey Community College (one retired instructor and a program advisor/biomedical market development manager). They have a program in Biomedical Technology which is geared toward the medical device industry. (AS. Degree transfers to Applied Engineering degree at Bemidji State)

Renee also met with several individuals involved with the Bio-link organization including their national director. In June, Renee and Sue Steck will be traveling to California for the Bio-link summer Fellows Forum.

V) Collaboration with other programs—and Gregg Marg Renee Guyer discussed the possibility for a collaboration with Agribusiness at SCC. Based on our location in south central Minnesota and the businesses which are in the area, the Biotechnology department could find a unique niche by having a agricultural component to its biotechnology program. The Biology faculty and the Agribusiness faculty have met to discuss possible collaborations and discussions are still ongoing. As any A.S. degree offered in MnSCU needs to articulated to a four year degree, Gregg Marg discussed the Biology program at MSUM. He indicated that in Biology at MSUM there are 5 different undergrad degrees (1 with 8 options): first two years really don’t differ.

VI) Biotechnology A. S. Degree requirements/Steering Committee Recommendations/General questions and conversation  Committee asked questions about difference between Bio AS and Grant. Sue talked about development of Biology program and articulation. Goal A.S. in Biotechnology if it won’t articulate, there is no reason to do it.  Clarification of relation to agriculture. Renee said this is still in development.  Clarification of program and how Biology vs. Biotechnology differs. Renee indicated that is really what we are trying to define. The A.S. degrees won’t be that different but the difference will be in the AAS degree.  Gregg Marg indicated that at MSU 5 different undergrad degrees (1 with 8 options): first two years really don’t differ  Lab techniques in the two year program really have no equivalent in the four year program.

 1/3 – 40% of the students are going to grad school but there is no “Biotech” grad program so Gregg is preparing them for many different fields. Many different groups that you are trying to meet all of their needs. Difference between biology and biotech is really in how intentional the application is. Bio tends to be more theoretical and biotech tends to be more applied and problem solving.

 A.A.S. required to have minimum 15 credits general education

 BK-Organic Chemistry should be requirement rather than just elective for Biotechnology  Microbiology is also needed as requirement (helpful for feedlots). Molecular biology course helpful for many fields.  Julia-asked about hiring. Suzanne-MnSCU budgets are lower than they used to be so SCC has less money that we had 10 years ago. Our tuition is currently $175/credit  Committee agreed that A.S. is pretty much set. A.A.S is what needs to be outlined  Areas which use Biotechnology?  Forrest--Food areas, whole foods, added value produces, extrusion technologies, extraction labs  Dean--Process control, quality control, regulation, working in a regulated environment, quality control, repeatability, documentation  Even regulation would be great training for A.S. students but may not transfer.  Julia and Dean: Other needs---understanding Excel and what you can do with a spreadsheet (could be an outcome of the course)—go beyond just the first layer of what can be done  Statistics—Ag statistics is going to be best and most useful, Biostatistics, Basic stats is absolutely essential (Forrest)  Even if they have taken it in high school, they probably are the students we have here or even at MSU  Mean, median, standard error could be built into an algebra course. Make sure students understand it and not just understanding how to push the buttons on the calculator.  Forrest-why is Trig in there? Answer--Because MSU requires it for Calculus.  Communication and Writing skills are essential  Dean-How does an AAS differ? Need 15 credits gen ed. It is a terminal degree.  B.K--give a little more technical stuff to AAS students  Intention Biotech is seen as next level of biology—see it as more challenging  Forrest--Biology technician versus Biotechnology AAS; these are different, so much of biology is also in business —could really use business courses—this will also help with the computer and Excel skills  BK--Based on experience, chemistry is more than 90% of biology. Without knowing basics, you can’t move on.  In two years how do you put together the most valuable employee that you can?  Other skill--Information acquisition  BK—expect the student to understand the basics so that you can teach them the techniques easily  Forrest-need students to be aware of QA and know what it means how to do it *must have a course  Stats*be able to estimate  Math—dilutions, basic chemistry, Molarity  Do basics and then add tools without getting too specific  Gregg has a book that covers basics of chemistry things such as what is an Erlenmeyer flask. That would be useful information for students to know.  Dean—lets define the market of the AAS  Veterinary medicine, quality control in food industry  Gregg-suggestion to speak with regional economic development groups—connect with them to see what these organizations have  Pioneer—lots of genetic marker work not just in plants but in others for skills  WHAT IS THE FOCUS AND WHAT IS THE MARKET??  Electrophoresis (DNA), PCR  The thing that makes it Biotech is if you are doing DNA manipulation or protein production. Other tools are basic lab technician program.  Pioneer’s main offices are in Des Moines.  Sangenta—big QC opperation—quality control is often done with DNA markers and not protein  Animal science and food science  BK-Biotech whole area is going to “kits” instead of individuals doing all of the work themselves. People don’t understand each step of the process. Need employees who understand what it is they are doing.  Make the student think about what they are doing and why they are doing. Don’t just do but think about what you are actually doing.  Everyone is screaming for Quality control/working in a regulatory environment course. We gloss over it in all of our courses  Julia--How do we reflect the plant science side of Biology? Food, feed, plant science.  Broad definition of biotechnology but with very focused techniques—let biotechnology mean everything  Include: o Principles of spectroscopy, chromatography---really need Greggs biological instrumentation courses o Business o Regulatory! o Communication o THESE ARE THE CORE!!!  When they make a mistake, they can’t tell that they have made a mistake and don’t know how to fix it.  Gregg Marg--Iron range engineering is all project based so they can run into things that go wrong. Need project based courses. Let them fail.  Forrest--Waste water treatment, phytonutrient extraction, how do you give someone the same skills that will be applicable in both environments. CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS!!! Help them learn how to think.  The “unknown” unknown….does the answer make sense based on where your sample came from. We should allow for there to not be an answer….the world is not black and white. What are mistakes you make…how to know what is wrong and what has gone wrong.  Allow electives for the students to break out on what they are  Principle AND application of principle in the same course. Each course will be more effective if basic and applied are occurring at the same time.  Make sure things don’t work at some point in the lab.

VII) Closing remarks—Renee Guyer thanked everyone for their support of our new program and their assistance today in generating ideas for the future. Renee said to expect to hear from her again in the future so we can continue this conversation.