Professional Science Masters Programs:

The Dean’s Perspective

Professional Science Masters Programs:

The Dean’s Perspective

Susan J. Koch

Dean of the Graduate College

University of Northern Iowa

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University of Northern Iowa

• Total F ‘06 enrollment - 12,260

• Graduate F ‘06 - 1,558

• Minority F ‘06 - 8.4%

• International F ‘06 -11.4%

• Graduate degrees ‘05 - 510

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Graduate Education Strategic Plan

• Campus-wide process led by Graduate College in ‘05 - ‘06

• Endorsed by all the Colleges and other university divisions

• 2.2 Create and implement new graduate programs that align with state and regional needs.

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UNI PSM Programs

• Applied Physics• Industrial Mathematics• Ecosystem Management• Biotechnology• Applied Chemistry and

Biochemistry

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Timeline

• December, ‘03 – CGS/Sloan meeting• April, ‘04 - $10,000 Planning grant for Applied

Physics and Industrial Mathematics• June-Dec, ‘04 – planning process• April, ‘05 - $45,000 Implementation grant• March, ‘06 – Iowa BOR approves 5 UNI PSMs• August, ‘06 – first PSM student enrolled• August, ‘07 – first PSM graduate in Applied

Physics … with job offer

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Resources

Estimated costs ‘04 – ‘09 - $1.6 M• $55,000 - Sloan grants• $256,000 - 4 new faculty lines to date • $129,000 Ecosystems Mng.; equipment grant

– Carver Foundation• $94,000 Ind. Math; professorship & lab –

Deere & Company• $372,000 Applied Physics; nanoscience

lab, students - Battelle funding

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Challenges

• Leadership• Ongoing collaboration with

business and industry• Curriculum• Resources• Recruitment