Biotechnology Program Receives State Recognition...

The Montgomery College biotechnology program has been awarded exemplary status by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB). This is the first time in its 12 years of evaluating technical/vocational education programs that the THECB has recognized a biotechnology program.

"This is a great honor," said Dr. Larry Loomis-Price, program director. "Our faculty, current students and graduates should all be very proud of this achievement."

The THECB, which provides leadership and coordination for state colleges and universities, evaluates community colleges every three years for institutional effectiveness and to ensure continuous improvement, accountability, and quality of education.

The Montgomery College biotechnology program, which Loomis-Price said is the oldest in Texas, prepares graduates for employment as biotechnicians in medical research, pharmaceutical, agricultural, forensic laboratories and similar industries.

Students earn an associate of applied science degree in biotechnology after completing 71 hours of coursework, which includes an internship. Students who already have degrees can pursue an advanced technical certificate in biotechnology (a 24-semester-hour course of study). After receiving the AAS or ATC, students can transfer directly to a partner four-year college, such as the University of Houston-Downtown, to earn a bachelor’s degree in biotechnology or they can directly enter the booming biotechnology industry.

Recent Montgomery College biotechnology graduate Avani Verma wants to continue her education and earn a four-year degree. "The Montgomery College program has been a great opportunity for me; it has not only given me the excellent experience of research at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, but has also provided me with a strong academic base to move ahead into earning a bachelor’s in biotech," said Verma.

Key factors in the THECB evaluation include the placement of program graduates, external agreements with other educational institutions, and business and industry partnerships.

"The best thing about the biotechnology program here at Montgomery College is that graduates are essentially guaranteed a job in the industry. Over the last eight years we have placed 100 percent of our students in jobs," said Loomis-Price. "Texas currently ranks sixth in the nation in biotechnology employment, and we are fortunate to have a great number of biotechnology firms located right here in South Montgomery County."

The Montgomery College Biotechnology Institute (MCBI), which was created in 2001, also likely "made us a very attractive candidate for exemplary status," said Loomis-Price. The MCBI is a unique program that has developed partnerships with local schools and businesses to help prepare a wide range of students for entry into the biotechnology industry.

The MCBI, with its close proximity to the Research Forest and surrounding biotech industry, includes research scientists, laboratory specialists, and educational experts who provide leadership and assistance in tailoring the curriculum to workforce demands.

"Our close relationship with those in the industry allows us to provide students with the exact skills employers seek in prospective employees," said Loomis-Price.

Montgomery College biotechnology graduate James Kiesow agreed. Kiesow finished his internship a local biotech company and will graduate this semester with several years of relevant laboratory experience.

"I was more prepared for my job than most of the people with four-year degrees," said Kiesow. "I entered the biotech field as an intern making $10 an hour and in less than two years I became the supervisor of the DNA modification department," said Kiesow. "Returning to school and graduating from the biotech program at Montgomery College was one of the best decisions I have ever made."

For more information about the biotechnology at Montgomery College, e-mail mcbiotech@lonestar.edu, call (936) 273-7060, or view montgomery.lonestar.edu/biotech/index.htm.

For more information about Montgomery College, visit montgomery.lonestar.edu, or call (936) 273-7000. Montgomery College is located at 3200 College Park Drive, approximately one-quarter mile west of I-45 between Conroe and The Woodlands.