Bunker Hill Community College Wins Major Endorsement for Biotechnology Courses
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
The new biotechnology curriculum at Bunker Hill Community College is one of the first in the state to win a Silver endorsement from the new Massachusetts Life Science Education Consortium. The Consortium’s endorsement of the College’s program acknowledges that it is successfully training students to work in biotechnology companies and allowing the state to keep a competitive edge.
To receive the endorsement, the College developed a new curriculum teaching core competencies, set by industry, for working in biotech. The curriculum includes: biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, molecular biology, immunology, bioinformatics and microbiology.
“This award is a unique example of higher education, the biotechnology industry and government working together to provide excellent educational opportunities for students,” said Dr. James F. Canniff, Bunker Hill Community College Vice President for Academic Affairs and Student Services.
“The endorsement is the first step in the collaboration between industry and academia to raise the level of workforce preparedness,” said Lance Hartford, Executive Director of MassBioEd, a backer with MassBio of the new endorsement program.
Dr. Belinda L. Kadambi, Assistant Professor in the Science and Engineering Department, established the new program. “Dr. Kadambi was hired only a year ago as our new Coordinator of Biotechnology, but in this short time she has worked determinedly to meet the requirements for this certification,” said Robert L. Steeper, Professor and Chair of the Science and Engineering Department.
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About Bunker Hill Community College
With more than 50 years of academic excellence, Bunker Hill Community College (BHCC) is one of Massachusetts' largest community colleges, serving approximately 16,000 students annually. With campuses in Charlestown and Chelsea, BHCC offers a broad range of educational opportunities throughout Greater Boston. BHCC fosters a welcoming and supportive learning environment for students by offering associate degrees and certificates, early college and dual enrollment, community education, corporate training, and industry-specific programs.