James Sprunt awarded biotechnology grant
By Bonnie Edwards
Published in News on April 24, 2005 2:00 AM
KENANSVILLE -- James Sprunt Community College has been awarded a $50,000 biotechnology grant to upgrade equipment and buy supplies for the Agricultural Technology and general science labs.
The grant, one of 22 awarded to the state's community colleges in round three of the funding process, is from the BioNetwork Biotechnology Equipment and Related Facility Enhancement Fund, which receives support from The Golden LEAF Foundation.
"We're very pleased to be a recipient of these funds," said June Davis, JSCC dean of Curriculum Services. "This will allow us to move forward in offering training in the growing field of biotechnology."
She said the grant will allow JSCC to:
* Enhance instructional and lab experiences in agricultural biotechnology in existing Agricultural Technology classes;
* Provide the opportunity to offer enhanced lab experiences in science classes required for a degree in Biotechnology, which is offered in collaboration with Pitt and Fayetteville Technical community colleges;
* Position the college to assist Duplin County in attracting biotechnology industries.
JSCC began offering a collaborative program in Biotechnology last year. Students in the Associate in Applied Science program can take the first year of classes at JSCC, then transfer to Pitt or Fayetteville Tech. to complete the degree.
The Biotechnology curriculum, which has emerged from molecular biology and chemical engineering, is designed to meet the increasing demands for skilled laboratory technicians in various fields of biological and chemical technology.
Course work emphasizes biology, chemistry, mathematics and technical communications. The program is designed to prepare graduates to serve in three distinct capacities: research assistant to a biologist or chemist, laboratory technician/instrumentation technician and quality control/quality assurance technician.