Chandler-Gilbert Community College will likely add an associate's degree in biotechnology to its degree offerings, a result of dialogue between the college and international biotech firm Covance Inc.

College officials have met with Covance, which is opening a site in Chandler, to determine the company's training needs.

CGCC already offers two courses in biotech for students who plan to transfer to four-year institutions. Expanded course offerings are expected to be available by the fall, and the new degree program may be in place within a year.

Despite Covance's involvement, CGCC President Maria Hesse told the Arizona Republic the new curriculum is "not shaped around any single company."

"It's not practical from a student's point of view to be trained too specifically and have no portability of skills," Hesse said. "If we shaped curriculum exclusively around [a company's] needs, students would have a hard time getting hired anywhere else—and our students get hired everywhere."

Bill Crawford, CGCC's dean of career and technical education, said that creating an associate's degree program is a "lengthy process" that will involve an advisory council of citizens, educators, and business people. The final product will have to pass muster with curriculum committees of the college and the Maricopa Community Colleges system.

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For more information:

"Classes, degree program part of cooperative effort," Arizona Republic, 02/01/2007