A New Kind of Scientist: Professional Master’s Education and U.S. Competitiveness: Nationwide Next Steps

American Association for the Advancement of Science Chicago, Illinois - February 14, 2009 Eleanor L. Babco Senior Consultant and Co-Project Director Professional Science Master’s Initiative Council of Graduate Schools

Professional Science Master’s (PSM) – Summary Thus Far

     Employment Outcomes of STEM Master’s Degree Graduates The NRC report on Science Professionals: Master’s Education for a Competitive World . PSM Degrees in Colleges and Universities A Student’s Perspective on PSM Degrees An Employer’s Perspective on PSM Degrees

Professional Science Master’s (PSM) – So Where Are We?

     About 125 programs in more than 60 institutions in 25 states (including the District of Columbia) and growing.

About 2,500 students enrolled annually and growing.

Student enrollment is highest in the biology/ biotechnology disciplines.

More than 2,100 PSM graduates thus far.

About 90% of PSM graduates find employment in non-academic settings.

Professional Science Master’s Current System-Wides

  California State University –Will make PSM programs available on 16 campuses. Currently, 9 PSMs are operating and 10 in planning stage.

SUNY – Currently, 9 campuses planning to launch PSM programs; three more plan to join the initiative. Currently, only University of Buffalo has 3 PSM programs.

Professional Science Master’s System-Wides (cont.)

   North Carolina – Currently, 5 campuses have 6 PSM programs, 3 more ready to affiliate, and more coming. University of North Texas – 3 PSM programs were developed at the flagship campus at Denton .

Planned

Massachusetts – Four of the five campuses in the UMass system, Boston, Dartmouth, Lowell and Amherst are moving forward with PSMs.

Professional Science Master’s State-Wide Efforts

      Oregon – Received a planning grant for statewide strategy for PSM Degrees. Currently, 4 PSM programs at OSU.

Arizona - Three university network – Arizona State (2 PSMs), University of Arizona (3 PSMs) and Northern Arizona plan. Seeking Sloan funding.

New Mexico – Site visit by CGS, but still in preliminary planning stage.

Virginia –Preliminary stage Pennsylvania –Preliminary stage Florida – Meeting in March to begin planning for state-wide PSM initiative.

Professional Science Master’s Campus-Wide/University-Wide

  Rutgers University – Received Sloan start-up support for a University-wide PSM Initiative. Also received a FIPSE award to advance the PSM initiative University of Illinois-Champaign-Urbana Centrally-administered, campus-wide, PSM Program. Currently three PSMs have been created.

Professional Science Master’s Collaborations

  HBCU/Mid-Atlantic PSM Alliance. Multi state initiative. Four full members – Delaware State, Morgan State, Howard University and University of D. C. Plan to expand.

Cal Poly Pomona developing a PSM in applied biotechnology with three other CSU campuses: Cal State Los Angeles, Cal State Fullerton and Cal State Dominguez Hills

Professional Science Master’s Collaborations (cont.)

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Virginia Tech and Georgetown University

formed a complementary partnership and created a PSM in Biomedical Technology Development and Management. Possibility of affiliating international professional master’s programs as associate PSM programs.

Peace Corp’s Master’s International Program

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Professional Science Master’s Collaborations (cont.) National Association of System Heads (NASH) National Conference of State Legislatures

• Renewed funding from Sloan • Plan to concentrate on selected states National Governors Association – Continued follow-up from the Policy Academy

Business Higher Education Forum

Possible Funding Sources

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For Institutions

• Sloan Foundation as part of the system-wide, state wide or university-wide initiatives.

• American Competes Act • The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009  $15 Million for PSM in EHR at NSF

For Students

• 2009 G.I. Bill • Industry

Expected Growth In PSM Programs 250 200 Number of Programs 150 100 50 0 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 55 9 2005 18 2006 18 2007 27 2008 2009 2010 (est.) 64 74 87 93 101 115 130 195

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Why Consider Establishing PSM Programs?

The bulk of the new jobs being created are in the non-academic sector; these programs prepare students for employment in non academe.

Most universities have a commitment to outreach. PSM programs fit perfectly as they provide well-educated graduates who will apply their skills to endeavors within the state.

Why Consider Establishing PSM Programs?

   Master’s graduates typically are a less mobile group than PhD recipients. About two-thirds of S&E master’s graduates were employed in the state in which they earned a degree. Only about one-fourth of S&E doctorate recipients plan employment in the state in which they earned their PhD. PSM programs are more popular with women and domestic students than traditional master’s programs in natural sciences.

They complement economic development plans by producing a cadre of science professionals who can contribute greatly to managing and growing science & technology based industries in states.

PSM in Federal Legislation

President Signed America COMPETES Act in August 2007. This Act included language for: • A PSM clearinghouse at NSF to share program elements used in successful PSM degree programs.

• A grant program at NSF to make awards to institutions of higher education to facilitate the creation or improvement of PSM programs. • Authorization of $15 million for FY 2010.

PSM in Federal Legislation

  Senate Appropriations Committee's report recommendation provides $15,000,000 for PSM Programs throughout the country as authorized by section 7034 of Public Law 110–69. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 - $15 Million for PSM in EHR at NSF

PSM - Goals

    PSM is a regular feature of graduate education At least 200 PSM programs in 100 institutions and growing Doubling the annual enrollment to about 5000 and growing Higher proportions of URMs and women than in traditional natural science master’s degree programs

PSM – Goals (continued)

   Continued growth in system-wide, state-wide and campus-wide adoption More industry support, i.e. internship sites, hiring of graduates, funding of program development and student support monies Federal support – • Full funding of America Competes Act at NSF • Funding from other agencies, Homeland Security, Department of Education, DoD, DoE

PSM – Goals (continued)

    Systematic tracking of graduate outcomes Wide recognition of the PSM degree brand Continued partnerships and collaborations among CGS, NGA, NPSMA, and NCSL Continued success for the Sixth PSM biennial meeting – November 2009

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For further information: Contact the CGS PSM Project Staff

Carol B. Lynch, Senior Scholar in Residence and Project Director, ([email protected])  Eleanor Babco, Senior Consultant and Co-Project Director ([email protected])  Nancy Vincent, Program Manager, ([email protected])  Josh Mahler, Program Assistant, ([email protected]) www.cgsnet.org

and www.sciencemasters.com