The document summarizes the preliminary results of the 2011-2012 National Biotechnology/Life Sciences Program Survey. Some key findings include: - There were 82 community colleges with biotechnology programs and over 3,300 total students enrolled across 252 programs. Program sizes have grown since previous surveys. - The majority of students are female, non-white, and have some prior work or educational experience in bioscience fields. - Programs collaborate extensively with local industry through advisory boards, internships, and guest instructors. Over 80% of programs believe industry certification would benefit students. - Graduates most commonly find employment in bioscience or transfer to 4-year programs. Bio-Link has helped many programs

1. 2011-2012 National Biotechnology/Life
Sciences Program Survey:
Preliminary Results
SUMMER FELLOWS FORUM
JUNE 5, 2012
BY
CANDIYA MANN
SENIOR RESEARCH MANAGER
SOCIAL & ECONOMIC SCIENCES RESEARCH CENTER
WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY

2. Methodology
 4th survey administration
 1999, 2000, 2008, 2011-12
 Survey method: paper through 2008, web in 2011
 Open Nov. 28th, 2011 – May 25, 2012
 Participants invited via:
 Email invitations
 Bio-Link website, Facebook, Twitter and listserv
 Contacted programs that respondents listed

3. Respondents
 97 Associate degree granting institutions
 4 universities
 4 international
 2 high schools
 Among the 97….
 82 currently have a certificate/degree biotechnology program
 Among the 82…
 252 biotechnology programs!

4. Number of Programs and Students
1998-99 2006-07 2011-12
Number of colleges with 47 83 82
programs
Total students 1,075 3,101 3,357
Program size Mean: 23 Median: 25 Mean: 41, Median: 30
Range: 4-71 Range: 0-600 Range: 2-200
The programs are growing…

5. Who are the students?
Student Characteristics
1998-99 2011-12
62%
51% Mean age:
48% 27 in 1998,
29 in 2011
35%
22%
20%
14%
10% 10%
Gender: Percentage Ethnicity: Percentage Entering with a Entering with work International/foreign
Female Minority Bachelors degree or experience in
higher bioscience or related
field*

6. Examples of Program Titles
60 Degrees 39 Certificates
 Associate of Science in  Advanced Technical Certificate in
Biotechnology Biotechnology
 Cell and Tissue Culture Certificate
 Associates Degree in
 Certificate in Biomanufacturing
Environmental Science Technology
 Certificate in Bioprotection
 Biotechnology Associate Degree in
 Genomics Technology
Applied Science
 Bioinformatics Certificate
 Associate of Science in  Clinical Research Professional
Environmental Sciences Certificate
 Associates Degree in Agricultural  Bioscience Regulatory Assurance
Biotechnology Technologist Certificate
 Biotechnology: Forensic Science
 Biotechnology Associate Degree in Option
Applied Science

7. Industry Collaboration
"In what ways does your program interact with industry?"
Participating on an advisory board 70%
Providing student internships 62%
Hiring company employees to teach college courses 35%
Helping with company projects in the school laboratory 19%
Using company laboratory facilities for student training 14%
Providing professional development for alumni 11%
Collaborating on arrangements, such as memoranda of
9%
understanding with local incubators
Serving as a contract research organization (CRO) for
9%
industry
Providing space for companies on the school campus 8%
Providing contract training 7%
Providing incubator space for start-up companies 6%
None of the above 4%

8. Other Types of Industry Collaboration
 Responses to open-ended question
 Employ graduates, host interns
 Provide guest instructors, guest speakers, discussion panels for
career advice, informational interviews, company tours
 Assist with curriculum development, advice about equipment
purchases and textbook selection
 Attend student showcase events, participate in professional
development events
 Provide equipment, grants, scholarships
 Share equipment
 Introduce biotech programs to new industry partners, market
programs

9. Internships and Collaboration
1998-99 2011-12
79% 78% 79%
Percentage of Programs
71% 73%
64%
57%
Require Offer internships Collaborate with Collaborate with
internships (Not asked in high school four-year
1998) bioscience bioscience
programs programs:

10. Support for Industry-Recognized Certification
In your opinion, would it benefit the students
in your program if they could obtain an
industry recognized certification?
Not
sure
No 10%
8%
Yes
82%

11. Degrees & Certificates Awarded
1193
754 752
486
1998-99 1999-00 2005-06 2010-11

12. Where do the students go next?
 Graduates with certificates (474) & degrees (719)
 Secured employment in the bioscience industry: 52%
 Transferred to a four-year institution: 29%
 Left program without certificate/degree (560)
 Transferred to a four-year institution: 20%
 Secured employment in the bioscience industry: 9%
 Completed the coursework needed to advance existing
bioscience career: 9%

13. Awareness of Bio-Link
 96%: Heard of Bio-Link prior to survey
 79%: Bio-Link has been helpful to their college

14. How Bio-Link Was Helpful
"Please review the list below and mark the ways in which Bio-
Link has been helpful."
Contacts with colleagues made through Bio-Link
68%
network
Information on Bio-Link website 60%
Attendance at Summer Fellows Forum 53%
Information obtained from Bio-Link at regional or
50%
national conference
Bio-Link sponsored or arranged professional
38%
development workshop
Help with a grant proposal 27%
Direct consulting assistance from Bio-Link or a Bio-
27%
Link partner
Contacts with local industry made with Bio-Link help
14%
or information

15. Other Ways Bio-Link Was Helpful
Themes from Responses
Sample Quotations
to Open-Ended Question
 Referrals to workshops and  “Bio-Link is useful to me in terms
of networking and benchmarking.”
partnerships
 “Bio-Link provides models and
 Webinars on grant writing
examples to emulate, especially
with regard to how to interact and
 Curricular materials work effectively with industry
partners.”
 Course-in-a-box
 Bio-Link listserv & Facebook  “The course-in-a-box has been
tremendous to me for a basic
 Fostering a sense of techniques course in
biotechnology.”
community

16. How Respondents Have Changed Due to Bio-Link
 “Are you or your institution doing anything differently as
a result of your interactions with Bio-Link?”
 Modified course content
 Implemented professional development workshops
 Developed new certificates
 Outreach/articulation with high schools and universities
 Instituted Bridge-to-Biotech program
 Re-defined grant application due to Bio-Link feedback

17. "Please indicate your level of interest in the following Bio-Link
services."
High Interest Some Interest Low Interest No Interest
Online clearinghouse 68% 26% 5%
1%
Science education pipeline models 66% 27% 6%1%
Career videos 65% 27% 8%1%
Models of college engagement with industry 61% 28% 10% 1%
Career website 61% 28% 9% 3%
Professional development 60% 29% 9% 3%
"Courses-in-a-box" 54% 34% 4% 8%
Online interactive community 53% 31% 15% 1%
Developing faculty internships 52% 32% 13% 3%
Online courses 46% 35% 15% 4%
Consulting 46% 35% 14% 5%
Equipment Depot 45% 38% 12% 5%
Discounts for group purchasing 39% 38% 18% 5%

18. Questions?