Graduate Interdisciplinary Faculty of Biotechnology Professional Program in Biotechnology Biotechnology Program Self-Study January 2010 External Review Biotechnology Program Self-Study TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION 4 1.1 Welcome 4 1.2 Charge to the Review Team 5 2. TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SYSTEM 6 2.1 The University System 6 2.2 Texas A&M University 7 2. GRADUATE INTERDISCIPLINARY PROGRAMS 9 3.1 Origins of the Interdisciplinary Program in Biotechnology 10 3.2 Program Overview 12 3.3 University Administration of the Biotechnology Program 13 3.3.1 IDP Management (2005- late 2008) 13 3.3.2 IDP Management (Late 2008-- Present) 14 3.4 Administrative Structure of the Professional Program in Biotechnology 14 3.4.1 Executive Committee 15 3.4.2 Admissions Committee 17 3.4.3 Curriculum Committee 17 3.4.4 Biotechnology Industry Advisory Council 18 3.4.5 Program Coordinator 20 3.5 Budget Information 21 3.5.1. Budget Allocations and Program Expenditures 21 4. VISIONS & GOALS 23 4.1 Texas A&M University Vision 2020 23 4.2 Mission of the Interdisciplinary Faculty of Biotechnology 24 4.2.1 Program Goals 24 4.2.2 Program Objectives 24 4.2.3 Methods to Attain Goals 25 4.3 Strategic Plan To Achieve Program Goals 26 4.4 Connection to the Vision, Goals, Mission and Objectives of TAMU 28 Page 1 Biotechnology Program Self-Study 5. THE GRADUATE PROGRAM 30 5.1 Application Process 30 5.2 Financial Assistance for PPiB students 30 5.3 Degree Requirements 31 5.3.1 Required Core Courses 31 5.3.2 Elective Courses 32 5.4 Enrichment Activities 33 5.5 Students 34 5.5.1 Program Enrollment Trends 34 5.5.2 Applicant Quality Profile 36 5.5.3 Student Demographics 37 5.5.4 Program Students and Graduates 38 5.6 Program Assessment Benchmarks 39 5.6.1 Student Evaluation of Instruction 40 5.6.2 Facilities & Resources for Advancing Student Training 40 5.6.3 Student Satisfaction Survey 43 6. BIOTECHNOLOGY FACULTY 44 6.1 Faculty Profile 44 6.2 Faculty Reinvestment Program and the Biotechnology Program 46 6.3 Faculty Involvement in Teaching 47 6.4 Faculty Honors and Recognition 48 7. STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF THE PROGRAM 49 7.1 Program Strengths 49 7.1.1 Faculty Expertise 49 7.1.2 Curriculum 49 7.1.3 Research & Enrichment Opportunities 49 7.1.4 Quality of Incoming Students 50 7.1.5 Biotechnology Industry Involvement 50 7.1.6 Serving Texas and the Rest of the World 50 Page 2 Biotechnology Program Self-Study 7.2 Program Weaknesses 50 7.2.1 Program Visibility 50 7.2.2 Internship and Placement Opportunities 51 7.2.3 Domestic Student Enrollment 51 7.2.4 Program Funding 52 7.2.5 Faculty Motivation & Incentive to Participate 52 REFERENCES 53 LIST OF APPENDICES 54 . Page 3 Biotechnology Program Self-Study 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Welcome Howdy! On behalf of the Graduate Interdisciplinary Faculty of Biotechnology, the students and staff of the Professional Program in Biotechnology, and the entire Texas A&M University community, let me welcome you to Texas A&M University. This may be your first visit to Aggieland. Whether this is your first visit, or you have been here before, I know you will experience the Aggie spirit and excitement on campus. Texas A&M University has just completed what many have termed the largest faculty expansion program anywhere. We recruited over 475 new faculty members across campus over the last five years! This external review is a required periodic review of all Texas A&M University academic programs. This is the first external review of the Biotechnology program and this document was prepared specifically for this purpose. The document provides an overview of the program, its history, faculty, students, curriculum, and our overall efforts at developing Science Managers. We are honored you are serving on this review, and we value the experience you bring to the process. We look forward to your feedback as we strive for excellence. If you have questions prior to your visit to campus in February please let me know. Suresh D. Pillai, PhD Chair, Graduate Interdisciplinary Faculty of Biotechnology Professor of Microbiology & Texas AgriLife Faculty Fellow Director, National Center for Electron Beam Research Page 4 Biotechnology Program Self-Study 1.2 Charge to the Review Team Dr. Robert C. Webb (Interim) Dean of Graduate Studies requests you to review the graduate program of the Professional Program in Biotechnology, a Professional Science Masters program using materials that you are being provided, information you gain through personal interactions while visiting Texas A&M, and any additional information that you might request. While evaluating the program, which is one of ten graduate interdisciplinary programs at Texas A&M University, please do consider the allocation of human and fiscal resources within the program and the level of support the Biotechnology Program receives from the University. Please comment as appropriate on current and potential leveraging of these resources, as well as the current and potential interaction with other departments and groups, both on and off campus. Also, please address the issue of learning-based outcomes: • Is the program effectively accomplishing its mission? • Does the program have ongoing and integrated planning and evaluation processes that result in continuous improvement? • Does the program have evidence of improvement based upon analysis of results? Additionally, we ask that you address the impact of the Faculty Reinvestment Program, started by Texas A&M University in 2003. The Reinvestment Program has resulted in the hiring of over 475 new faculty members across the University. The goal was to improve the quality of education for Texas A&M students by having more faculty available for mentoring and advising, whether more courses and sections are available, or by simply being more responsive to student needs. We ask that you assess the success of the Faculty Reinvestment Program in terms of providing enhanced graduate education, and training opportunities for the students in the Biotechnology Program. Page 5 Biotechnology Program Self-Study 2. TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SYSTEM 2.1 The University System The Texas A&M University System (TAMUS) is one of the larger systems of higher education in the U.S. The System is comprised of 11 universities (Fig.1) , 7 state agencies, and a health science center. TAMUS educates more than 115,000 students and serves about 15 million Texans each year. With nearly 27,000 faculty and staff, TAMUS has a physical presence in 250 of the state’s 254 counties and a programmatic presence in every Texas county. TAMUS brings in more than $ 675 million annually in externally funded research helping to drive the state’s economy. Figure 1 Texas A&M University System universities The Texas A&M University System includes: Texas A&M University – College Station (flagship university) Texas A&M University at Galveston Texas A&M University at Qatar (in the Middle East) Prairie View A&M University Texas A&M University at Commerce Tarleton State University at Stephenville West Texas A&M University at Canyon Texas A&M University at Kingsville Texas A&M University at Corpus Christi Texas A&M International University at Laredo Texas A&M University at Texarkana Texas A&M University Central Texas at Killeen Texas A&M University at San Antonio Page 6 Biotechnology Program Self-Study Texas A&M Health Science Center, College Station The Texas A&M University System Agencies include: Texas AgriLife Research Texas AgriLife Extension Service Texas Engineering Experiment Station Texas Engineering Extension Service Texas Forest Service Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory Texas Transportation Institute 2.2 Texas A&M University Texas A&M University started as Texas’ first public institution of higher learning on October 4, 1876. To date, the university has awarded more than 365,000 degrees. It is one of a select few academic institutions in the nation to hold triple federal designations as a Land-Grant, Sea-Grant and Space-Grant university. It offers more than 120 undergraduate degree programs and 240 master’s and Ph.D degree programs. Texas A&M University operates 2 branch campuses and awards “Texas A&M University” degrees in Galveston and Qatar. The university also operates centers in Mexico City, Costa Rica and Italy to facilitate education, research, and outreach. The annual research portfolio at the University is estimated to be in excess of $528 million, placing it among the top 20 universities nationwide. More than 80% of the 2,800 faculty members hold doctoral degrees. The faculty includes Nobel Prize, National Medal of Science, and Wolf Prize winners. There are over two dozen faculty members who are members of the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering or the Institute of Medicine. There are 48,000 Aggies currently enrolled on the main campus in College Station out of which more than 9,000 are graduate students. The university ranks as the country’s sixth largest university in terms of student enrollment. It ranks among the top US universities in attracting international students with more than 4,500 students from 120 countries. It consistently ranks among the country’s top 20 universities in terms of enrollment of National Merit Scholars. There are 10 academic colleges at Texas A&M University. These are: • College of Agriculture & Life Sciences • College of Science Page 7 Biotechnology Program Self-Study • Dwight Look College of Engineering, • College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, • College of Architecture, • Bush School of Government and Public Service • Mays Business School • College of Education and Human Development • College of Geosciences • College of Liberal Arts The Corps of Cadets at Texas A&M University is the nation’s largest uniformed student body which commissions more officers than any other institution except for the nation’s service academies.