Arizona State University and GateWay Community College officials have reached an agreement that will allow community college biotech students to transfer all their credits to ASU.
Beginning this fall, students who finish their first two years of study through GateWay’s molecular biology and biotechnology program can transfer all 60 credits to ASU, where they will begin as juniors.
Robin Pettit, a biology and biotechnology professor at GateWay, told the Business Journal that there will be no tinkering around with classes that may or may not transfer to ASU.
GateWay offered an associates degree in molecular science and biotechnology for the first time last fall. According to Pettit, there were not enough students to fill the classes.
She told the Business Journal she attributes the lack of participation to the fact that students would rather work toward a four-year degree in the field of biotechnology, since most go on to earn their doctorates.
According to the Battelle Bioscience Workforce Needs Assessment, in the next few years bioscience-related hires will increase by at least 20 percent of current employment levels, with research jobs increasing by 23 percent and lab technician positions increasing by 32 percent.
Now students will be able to enter the workforce after earning their associates or transfer more easily than they could before to ASU to pursue a bachelor’s.
Editor’s note: Any of the Maricopa Community Colleges can follow the transfer agreement (ATP) established with ASU. This information was brought to our attention subsequent to the publication of the article, and we offer it here for the reader’s information.
For more information:
“ASU, GateWay work to speed up biotech training,” Business Journal of Phoenix, 05/05/2006