>> Chair: OKAY, THE NEXT ITEM IS DISCUSSION, POSSIBLE
ACTION, STUDENT SUCCESS. AND IS THAT GOING TO BE
DR. MALCOLM? YEP, THERE YOU ARE.
OKAY. >> I DIDN'T KNOW IF
DR. MALCOLM WAS GOING TO STARTED IT OR IF I WAS GOING
TO START IT. >> LINNEA, DR. MALCOLM IS
GOING TO START IT, BUT THE MIC WASN'T WORKING RIGHT
NOW. >> OKAY, GREAT.
>> NOW THEN, SORRY ABOUT THAT.
NOW I'M STARTING, FOR OVER 20 YEARS AUSTIN COMMUNITY
COLLEGE HAS BEEN A MEMBER OF THE NSF FUNDED NATIONAL
BIOTECHNOLOGY, EDUCATION CENTERS.
THANKS TO THE LEADERSHIP OF DR. LIN YA FLETCHER WHO YOU
ARE ABOUT TO HEAR FROM. MOST OF YOU KNOW
DR. FLETCHER AS AN OUTSTANDING FACULTY MEMBER,
A FORMER CHAIR AND A PURSUER OF MANY GRANTS FOR US,
INCLUDING -- SHE IS THE PERSON THAT GOT US THAT ACC
BIOSCIENCE INCUBATOR THROUGH THE STATE OF TEXAS.
SO SHE CAME BACK TO US AND BROUGHT ANOTHER GRANT IN
2019. WE WERE AWARDED THE
FIVE-YEAR LEAD OF THE CENTER NAMED INNOVATEBIO AND AUSTIN
COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND DR. FLETCHER IS THE
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
THE INNOVATEBIO WHICH IS A NATIONAL GRANT AND A
NATIONAL CENTER. AND WE FELT LIKE IT WAS
IMPORTANT FOR Y'ALL TO HAVE AN UPDATE ON WHAT'S GOING ON
WITH THAT AND WHAT IT MEANS TO ACC.
DR. FLETCHER, TURN IT OVER TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NOW, I KNOW I HAVE TO TURN
IN MY PRESENTATION, DOES THAT MEAN YOU'RE GOING TO BE
DOING THE PRESENTATION FOR ME OR DO I HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY OF DOING IT MONTH I SELF?
YOU'LL HAVE TO FORGIVE ME IF I DON'T KNOW QUITE ALL THE
PROCEDURES FOR THIS. OKAY, ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND I WANT TO THANK MADAM
CHAIR AND THE TRUSTEES AND CHANCELLOR RHODES FOR THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO SHARE THE ACTIVITIES OF THE
CENTER WITH YOU. IT'S BEEN A VERY DYNAMIC
YEAR AS YOU CAN IMAGINE FOR A BIOTECHNOLOGY NATIONAL
CENTER GRANT. SO I'LL TELL YOU A LITTLE
BIT FIRST ABOUT MY LEADERSHIP TEAM.
IT REPRESENTS THE NATION. JIM HEWLETT, DR. HEWLETT IS
AT FINGER LAKES COMMUNITY COLLEGE, AND HE WAS PICKED
BECAUSE HE'S ACTUALLY HEAD OF THE UNDERGRADUATE
RESEARCH INITIATIVE FOR THE NATION AT COMMUNITY
COLLEGES. DR. TOM TUBON IS AT MADISON
COLLEGE AND HE HAS HIS OWN GRANT IN EMERGING TECHNOLOGY
OF STEM CELLS AND MEDICAL DEVICES.
RUSS REED, HE WAS FORMALLY IN INDUSTRY -- HE IS AT
FORSYTH COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE AND ALSO
RUNS THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR FUNDED CENTER IN
BIOTECHNOLOGY. AND DAVE MICELOSE AND HE IS
THE DIRECTOR OF THE DNA LEARNING CENTER ON LONG
ISLAND, AND HE HAS BEEN IN BIOTECH EDUCATION FOR
APPROXIMATELY 30 YEARS. I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT
TO SHARE THE BACKGROUND OF MY LEADERSHIP TEAM BECAUSE
CAN YOU SEE WHY I PICKED THEM TO JOIN US.
NEXT SLIDE. SO WHAT I'M HOPING --
BECAUSE YOU'RE GETTING A SNAPSHOT OF WHAT THE CENTER
DOES, I THOUGHT FIRST I'D TALK ABOUT NATIONAL
RESPONSIBILITIES, AND THEN I WOULD TALK ABOUT HOW THE
GRANT IS IMPACTING ACTIVITIES IN TEXAS AND
AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND THEN OF COURSE IF YOU
HAVE QUESTIONS ALONG THE WAY, FEEL FREE TO ASK ME.
SO THE ONE THING I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU IS THAT ONE
THING I STRESS WITH MY TEAM THAT I LEARNED AT ACC IS
SERVANT LEADERSHIP, BECAUSE I DO REMIND THEM
CONSISTENTLY THAT WE'RE HERE TO SERVE THE NATION AND NOT
OUR OWN SELF-INTERESTS AT OUR INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS.
AND THAT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IT IS
QUITE A BIT OF MONEY AND THEY DO THINK ABOUT THEIR
SCHOOLS AND PROGRAMS QUITE A BIT, BUT WE REALLY -- OUR
MISSION IS THE NATION, IS BIOTECHNOLOGY EDUCATION IN
THE AREA WORKFORCE. WE MENTOR 109 BIOTECH
PROGRAMS ACROSS THE NATION THAT ARE CURRENTLY TRYING TO
EDUCATE STUDENTS TO WORK IN AN AREA THAT IS ONLY
GROWING, NOT DECREASING. AND THEY HAVE A LOT OF HIGH
SCHOOL PROGRAMS THAT ARTICULATE WITH THEM, SO IF
YOU THINK ABOUT FIVE HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMS FOR ALMOST
EVERY ONE OF THESE COMMUNITY COLLEGES, WE HAVE BEEN VERY
BUSY IN THAT REGARD. WE WORK WITH INDUSTRY AND
TRADE ORGANIZATIONS, PRIMARILY BIO, WHICH IS THE
BIOTECHNOLOGY INNOVATION ORGANIZATION, WHICH IS THE
GLOBAL ORGANIZATION REPRESENTING INDUSTRY.
AND WE NOW WORK WITH THE MANUFACTURING INSTITUTES,
WHICH ARE VERY IMPORTANT AS YOU KNOW.
SO WE WORK WITH NIMBLE, WHICH FOCUSES ON THE
PHARMACEUTICAL SIDE, AND WE ALSO WORK WITH THE LATEST
MANUFACTURING INSTITUTE KNOWN AS BIO MADE, AND I
VOLUNTEERED TO BE THEIR INTERIM WORKFORCE DIRECTOR
BECAUSE IT WAS IN LINE WITH MY JOB DUTIES.
SO WE'D ALSO HAVE AN IN TO THE LATEST MANUFACTURING
INSTITUTE AND MY JOB WILL BE TO FIND SOMEBODY TO SERVE AS
THE FULL-TIME POSITION. THE OTHER THING WE DO IS WE
HAVE AN ALUMNI NETWORK THAT WE'RE STARTING AT ACC THAT
WILL BE THE MODEL FOR THE NATION BECAUSE THESE
PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN IN BUSINESS NOW FOR ABOUT 30
YEARS. SO THERE IS A LOT OF ALUMNI
WHO ARE WORKING AT COMPANIES.
THE OTHER JOB THAT WE TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY IS THAT WE
MENTOR ALL THESE PROGRAMS IN GRANT-WRITING AND MANAGEMENT
AND WE WORK TO INCREASE THE LEADERSHIP WITHIN THE
BIOTECH COMMUNITY. SO IF YOU EVER HAVE TIME, I
HOPE YOU'LL SPEND SOME TIME AT OUR WEBSITE, AND THIS IS
OUR WEBSITE. IT BECAME LIVE IN JANUARY
AND WE ALSO HAVE A FACEBOOK PAGE AND WE ALSO HAVE A
LINKEDIN PAGE BECAUSE WE TRY TO LINK ALL THE STUDENTS IN
THE PROGRAMS ACROSS THE NATION AND EVEN WHEN THEY
GRADUATE, AND THEN WITHIN THE JOB FORCE VIA LINKEDIN,
BECAUSE THAT WAY WE CAN TRACK THEM AND LINKEDIN IS
PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST METHODS FOR FOLLOWING THEIR
CAREERS AND DOING CAREER DEVELOPMENT.
SO THE NETWORK -- IF YOU GO TO OUR WEBSITE, YOU'LL FIND
THAT WE ACTUALLY KEEP TRACK OF ALL THE PROGRAMS.
WE KEEP TRACK OF EVERYONE THAT HAS A GRANT WITHIN THE
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION, BECAUSE WE'RE RESPONSIBLE
FOR MENTORING ALL OF THE ATE GRANTS.
WE WERE FUNDED THROUGH NSF, BUT THE PARTICULAR PROGRAM
IS CALLED THE ADVANCED TECHNICAL EDUCATION, AND IT
IS OUR JOB TO MENTOR EVERYONE WHO GETS A GRANT IN
BIOTECHNOLOGY OUT OF NSF. WE ALSO FOLLOW FOUR YEAR
PROGRAMS.N'T KNOW IF YOU ALL REALIZE IT, BUT THERE IS
ABOUT -- THERE ARE SEVERAL FOUR YEAR PROGRAMS IN
BIOTECH THAT WERE STARTED AT COMMUNITY COLLEGES THERE IN
CALIFORNIA AND FLORIDA. SO INTERESTINGLY THIS
SUMMER, BASED ON A CONVERSATION THAT WAS HELD
ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE, TWO FACULTY MEMBERS WERE
DISCUSSING HOW IMPOSSIBLE IT IS TO EDUCATE STUDENTS IN
WORKFORCE TECHNIQUES WHEN THEY ARE NO LONGER ALLOWED
IN THE LAB. SO WITHIN TWO WEEKS WE
DECIDED TO HAVE A SUMMER WORKSHOP FOR THESE PEOPLE.
IT WAS THREE DAYS A WEEK FOR FIVE WEEKS, AND
ESSENTIALLY -- (NO AUDIO) THE FACULTY FROM ALL AROUND
THE NATION CAME TOGETHER AND CONSIDERED HELPING THEM IN
TERMS OF THE IDEA OF SENDING EQUIPMENT TO STUDENTS AT
REDUCED COST. WE ALSO GOT SEVERAL
FACILITIES INVOLVED WITH THE IDEA OF SETTING UP KITS AT
HOME THAT WOULD DUPLICATE SOME OF THE EXPERIMENTS THAT
THESE FACULTY MEMBERS WERE TRYING TO EDUCATE THEIR
STUDENTS ON. I HAVE TO SAY THAT I WAS
PRETTY EXCITED HOW THE COMMUNITY CAME TOGETHER.
BY THE TIME WE FINISHED, WE HAD OVER 500 TEACHERS
ATTENDING, WHICH KIND OF STRESSED -- KIND OF STRESSED
OUR ZOOM ACCOUNT TO SOME DEGREE.
AS A RESULT, WE EVEN IDENTIFIED SEVERAL
INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE WILLING TO BE LEADS IN THE NATION
FOR THEIR STATES IN BIOTECHNOLOGY.
SO BOTH TEXAS -- SO WE HAVE A LEAD IN TEXAS WHO IS
ORGANIZING OUR HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMS, AND I DON'T KNOW
IF YOU REALIZE IT, BUT IN TEXAS YOU CAN FIND OUT EVERY
CTE PROGRAM THAT EXISTS. SO WE KNOW EVERY BIOTECH
PROGRAM IN THE STATE OF TEXAS THAT'S IN A HIGH
SCHOOL. WE ALSO HAVE THE LEADS FOR
GEORGIA, CALIFORNIA, AND NEW YORK.
I HEARD A VOICE. >> DOCTOR, COULD I ASK A
QUESTION SORT OF MAYBE A STEP BACK IF YOU DON'T MIND.
NO NO, NO PROBLEM. >> Chair: I'VE BEEN IN THE
TECHNOLOGY WORLD ALL MY CAREER, BUT BIOTECH IS A BIT
DIFFERENT FOR ME. AND PERHAPS SOME OF OUR
VIEWERS OR SOME OF OUR TRUSTEES, COULD YOU STEP
BACK AND TELL US JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THAT
ENCOMPASSES. IT'S ALL FASCINATING AND WE
HEAR ABOUT BIOTECH AND BIOTECH INDUSTRY AND
BUSINESSES AND ARE THEY GOING TO TAKE OFF -- CAN YOU
TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IF YOU'RE STUDYING BIOTECH,
IF YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING IN BIOTECH, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
>> WELL, PRETTY MUCH BIOTECH IS A HARNESSING OF NATURE TO
BENEFIT MANKIND OR HUMANKIND.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU DON'T KNOW THIS AND IN YOUR
TIDE DETERGENT THERE IS AN ENZYME FROM A BACTERIA THAT
WAS CLONED INTO ANOTHER BACTERIA MASS PRODUCED AND
IT'S USED TO CHEW UP PROTEIN.
IT'S THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY.IT'S THE VACCINE INDUSY
THAT'S NOW MAKING ALL THE VACCINES FOR COVID.
IT IS IDENTIFYING WILDLIFE SO YOU CAN ACTUALLY GO INTO
WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT WITH BIOTECHNOLOGY INFORMATION TO
IDENTIFY WILDLIFE AND JUST BY SCAT, IF YOU KNOW WHAT
SCAT IS. YOU KNOW, ON THE GROUND, YOU
CAN IDENTIFY THINGS, SO BIOTECHNOLOGY IS HUGE.
IT'S A HUGE FIELD AND SO MANY DIFFERENT CAREERS ARE
POSSIBLE OUT OF THAT AREA. SORRY IF I DIDN'T SAY
ANYTHING RIGHT OFF THE BAT. >> Chair: NO, THAT'S
HELPFUL. FOR US LAYPERSON'S AND SORT
OF BIOTECH IS THE WAVE OF THE FUTURE, IF YOU WILL,
BUT -- >> OH, IT IS.
>> Chair: WE DON'T QUITE ALWAYS UNDERSTAND HOW DOES
THAT TRANSLATE, WHAT IS A STUDENT GOING TO STUDY AND
WHAT FIELDS ARE THEY GOING INTO?
>> YES, GO AHEAD. >> THIS IS CHARLES.
I DON'T KNOW IF THE COMPANY IS STILL ENGAGED IN OUR ACC
BIOSCIENCE INCUBATOR, BUT THERE WAS A COMPANY THAT WAS
STUDYING THE MUSCLES THAT WE HAVE IN OUR LAKES TO TRY TO
FIGURE OUT HOW CAN WE'RE RAD INDICATE THEM SAFELY WITHOUT
HARMING THE WATER SUPPLY. >> YES, WITHOUT PUTTING
SOMETHING IN THERE THIS KILLS THEM AND KILLS ALL THE
FISH AND JUST TARGET THE MUSSELS SPECIFICALLY.
>> Chair: GREAT. THANKS, APPRECIATE THAT.THAT'S HELPFUL.
THANK YOU. >> NEXT SLIDE.
SO ALONG THOSE LINES, WE ALSO HELD FIVE REGIONAL
COMMUNITY MEETINGS THIS PAST FALL BECAUSE OUR COMMUNITY
REALLY NEED TO BE HEARD. SO WE LISTENED AND TALKED
WITH 109 PROGRAMS, WHICH I'LL HAVE TO TELL YOU WAS
REALLY INTERESTING BECAUSE THEY HAVE SO MANY DIFFERENT
WAYS TO TRAIN TECHNICIANS AND ALSO SO MANY BARRIERS
THAT THEY ARE FACING THEMSELVES.
AND I'LL JUST PUT IN A QUICK PLUG FOR ACC.
AFTER THESE MEETINGS, I REALIZED HOW LUCKY I AM TO
BE A FACULTY MEMBER AT ACC. NEXT SLIDE.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE WORKING ON THAT'S GOING
TO BE VERY IMPORTANT THIS YEAR IS THAT WE'RE GOING TO
PUT OUT A PRODUCT THAT WE'RE SPONSORING WITH BIO, THE
BIOTECHNOLOGY INNOVATION ORGANIZATION.
IT'S GOING TO BE A LIFE SCIENCE WORKFORCE TREND
REPORT, AND THE ONE REASON THAT WE WANTED TO SUPPORT
THIS IS BECAUSE NO REPORT HAS EVER ESSENTIALLY
REPORTED ON THE ROLE OF TECHNICIANS.
IF YOU READ THE LATEST SCIENCE BOARD REPORT, YOU'LL
SEE THAT THE SCIENCE BOARD FINALLY HAS PUBLISHED AND
ENDORSED THE IDEA THAT EVERY SENIOR SCIENTIST NEEDS AT
LEAST FIVE TO SEVEN TECHNICIANS.
SO TECHNICIANS WHO ARE PRODUCED AT TWO-YEAR SCHOOLS
ARE PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT WORKFORCE TO BE
QUITE HONEST BECAUSE WITHOUT THEM SENIOR SCIENTISTS
CANNOT DO THEIR JOBS. SO WE'LL BE ESSENTIALLY IN
THIS REPORT GATHERING INFORMATION FROM ALL AROUND
THE NATION ABOUT HOW COMPANIES ARE NEEDING THIS
WORKFORCE AND DOCUMENTING THAT AS PART OF THE CAREER
PATHWAY. THE CAREER PATHWAY THAT GOES
FROM HIGH SCHOOL ALL THE WAY UP TO POSTGRADUATE WORK.
WE WILL ALSO BE DOCUMENTING HOW COVID-19 HAS TOTALLY
CHANGED THE LANDSCAPE FOR BIOSCIENCE INDUSTRY
WORKFORCE NEEDS. IN THIS COUNTRY ALONE, AND
JUST SEEING MY OWN PROGRAM AT ACC, THE NEED FOR
TECHNICIANS HAS INCREASED DRAMATICALLY.
RIGHT NOW, I HAVE 100% PLACEMENT OUT OF MY PROGRAM
AND WITHIN TEXAS YOU'LL SEE IN THE NEXT SLIDE THAT TEXAS
IS THE STATE WITH THE FASTEST GROWING BIOSCIENCE
CITIES IN THE NATION. ESSENTIALLY AUSTIN IS NO. 3
IN THE GROWTH RATE. NO. 2 IS HOUSTON, AND DALLAS
IS NO. 6. BECAUSE OUR BIOSCIENCE IS
GROWING FASTER THAN -- HERE IN TEXAS THAN ANYWHERE ELSE
IN THE NATION. EVEN THOUGH THERE IS STILL A
LOT OF BIOSCIENCE OF COURSE IN CALIFORNIA AND ON THE
NORTHEAST IN BOSTON, BUT WE ARE THE FASTEST GROWING
STATE. I KIND OF JUMPED AHEAD A
LITTLE BIT. SO JUST TALKING, THIS SLIDE
PRETTY MUCH SUMS UP WHAT I JUST SAID IS HOUSTON IS 2,
AUSTIN IS 3RD AND DALLAS IS 6TH.
IF YOU DIDN'T REALIZE IT, ONE OF THE MAJOR VACCINE
PRODUCERS FUJI FILM IS IN COLLEGE STATION, AND I
ACTUALLY HAVE STUDENTS FROM OUR PROGRAM WORKING AT THIS
FACILITY. IN TOWN, X BIOTECH
ESSENTIALLY HAS JUST SOLD A MAJOR PRODUCT TO JOHNSON AND
JOHNSON AND IS INCREASING THEIR PIPELINE AND WE HAVE
SEVERAL STUDENTS WORKING THERE.IN FACT, IF YOU GUYS CAN
REMEMBER BACK TO THE CEREMONY THAT WE HAD FOR THE
INTRODUCTION OF THE INCUBATOR, I DON'T KNOW IF
YOU REMEMBER MARCY, SHE WAS A STUDENT WHO ACTUALLY
TALKED FROM THE PODIUM. GUESS WHAT, SHE IS A LEAD
PERSON AT XBIOTECH. SHE'S BEEN WORKING THERE
THREE YEARS AND SHE IS NOW HEAD OF HER -- SHE'S ON
UPSTREAM PRODUCTION WHERE SHE IS IN CHARGE OF ALL THE
CELLS THAT MAKES THE PRODUCT AND SHE'S THE LEAD PERSON
FOR THERE. SO I THOUGHT YOU'D BE
EXCITED TO HEAR THAT. NOW, ONE THING I WANTED TO
TELL YOU IS HOW DOES A CENTER GRANT IMPACT TEXAS
AND OUR PARTICULAR PROGRAM? WELL, IF YOU DON'T REALIZE
IT, BECAUSE WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN PART OF A CENTER GRANT
AND NOW THAT WE'RE NOW THE LEAD IN THE NATION, WE ALSO
LEAD THE STATE AND RIGHT NOW BIO MANUFACTURING IS KEY AND
WE'RE GOING TO BE LEADING THE EFFORT IN REDOING THE
SKILL STANDARDS IN BIO MANUFACTURING.
THERE ARE FOUR OTHER BIOTECH PROGRAMS IN THE STATE OF
TEXAS AND WE'LL BE THE LEAD FOR THAT EFFORT.
WE JUST HAD A WORKSHOP THAT THE NATIONAL CENTER PUT ON
AND THROUGH THAT WORKSHOP WE UPDATED ALL THE PROGRAMS IN
THE STATE OF TEXAS. NEXT SLIDE.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF THIS WILL WORK OR NOT.
I KIND OF -- I WANTED TO SHARE -- I DON'T KNOW HOW
THIS IS GOING TO WORK. ONE OF THE ALUMNI IN THIS
PANEL HAD ONE OF THE STUDENTS THAT WE PRODUCED.
AS I MENTIONED WE ARE ALLOWING THE NATIONAL CENTER
TO ESSENTIALLY START THE ALUMNI BIOSCIENCE FOR ACC
AND THAT WILL BE THE MODEL FOR THE NATION.
AND I DIDN'T KNOW IF I COULD PRODUCE -- I DID SEND IN THE
VIDEO OF AMANDA AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WILL BE ABLE TO
HEAR WHAT AMANDA SAYS. SHE'S A STUDENT WHO
GRADUATED ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO AND IS NOW WORKING AT
FUJI, WHICH IS THE VACCINE PRODUCTION COMPANY IN
COLLEGE STATION. CAN WE SEE IF WE CAN SHARE
THAT WITH THE TRUSTEES? >> I JUST WANTED TO SAY FOR
VALUABLE SKILLS THAT I GOT FROM ACC, FIRST THANK YOU TO
THE BIOTECHNOLOGY PROGRAM BECAUSE YOU PREPARED ME
WONDERFULLY FOR ALL THREE POSITIONS THAT I'VE HAD AT
FUJI FILM. AND I'VE BEEN ABLE TO STAND
BESIDE PEOPLE WITH Ph.D'S AND WORK ALONGSIDE WITH THEM
AND THEY WOULDN'T KNOW WHAT LEVEL MY DEGREE WAS BECAUSE
I WAS ABLE TO DO THE WORK RIGHT THERE WITH THEM.
>> I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU AN EXCERPT.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE 12 MINUTES OF THIS, BUT I FIGURED YOU
DIDN'T WANT TO HEAR 12 MINUTES OF ALUMNI TALKING
ABOUT THE VALUE OF THE PROGRAM.
BUT IT IS AVAILABLE. SO I THOUGHT YOU WOULD BE
INTERESTED IN HEARING THAT ONE.
THE NEXT SLIDE. SO THE LAST THING I WANTED
TO TALK ABOUT BECAUSE YOU WERE TALKING, AND ESPECIALLY
WHAT DR. RHODES WAS SAYING, THIS IDEA OF HIGH IMPACT
TEACHING METHODS, THAT'S ONE THING OUR CENTER GRANT
REALLY FOCUSES ON. AND THIS IDEA OF COMBINING
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WITHEDUCATG SO HIGH IMPACT AS GETTING
STUDENTS INVOLVED IN ACTUAL COMPANY WORK BECAUSE THEY
REALLY FEEL LIKE THEY'RE MAKING A DIFFERENCE.
SO THE IDEA OF THE INCUBATOR, WE ARE LITERALLY
A MODEL FOR THE NATION ON THIS AND THIS IS SOMETHING
I'M GOING TO DO MORE PUBLICATIONS ON.
I GAVE YOU ONE PUBLICATION. THAT'S ONLY THE BEGINNING.
THAT IS HOW WE STARTED OUR INCUBATOR, WHICH BY THE WAY,
IS NOW BEING UTILIZED BY OTHER COMMUNITY COLLEGES
FROM AROUND THE NATION TO DO EXACTLY THE SAME THING.
NOW, NOT EVERYBODY CAN GO OUT AND BUY A MALL.
THAT WAS THE BRILLIANCE OF OF OUR GROUP.
BUT THE IDEA OF COMBINING THE TWO TOGETHER IS
SOMETHING THAT OTHER COMMUNITY COLLEGES WANT TO
DO THEMSELVES. AND THE NEXT PUBLICATION I
WANT TO DO HOW TO RUN THE INCUBATOR BECAUSE, YOU KNOW,
TYLER AND THE ACC GROUP DID SUCH A GREAT JOB OF
EXPANDING THE MODEL OF HOW BEST TO RUN EDUCATION
COMBINED WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.HER THING MY GRANT
FOCUSES ON IS SUPPLY CHAIN. I DON'T HAVE A SLIDE FOR
THIS BUT I'LL TELL YOU ABOUT THIS.SO THE IDEA OF HAVING
STUDENTS INSTEAD OF JUST MAKING SOLUTIONS AND
THROWING THEM AWAY, WE HAVE STUDENTS ACTUALLY MAKING
KITS AND PRODUCTS IN THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE THAT ARETHEN L
AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE TRYING TO PROMOTE
ACROSS THE NATION. BECAUSE WHEN STUDENTS MAKE
THINGS FOR OTHER STUDENTS AND THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO
WORK WELL, DO YOU KNOW WHAT? THEY REALLY UNDERSTAND THE
VALUE OF SOFT SKILLS AND THEY PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT
THEY'RE DOING WHEN THEY KNOW THAT ANOTHER STUDENT IS
GOING TO BE USING THAT PRODUCT.
AND THIS HAS BEEN DONE IN CALIFORNIA, IT'S BEING DONE
IN OUR PROGRAM AND IN OTHER PROGRAMS ACROSS THE NATION.
SO THIS IDEA OF THE SUPPLY CHAIN WHERE STUDENTS ARE
MAKING PRODUCTS TO BE USED BY OTHER STUDENTS, IS
SOMETHING THAT WE'RE TRYING TO PROMOTE.
AND THEN THE LAST SLIDE, MY GROUP CAME LAST FRIDAY
BEFORE THERE WAS NO TRAVEL. IT WAS RIGHT ON THE CUSP AND
ESSENTIALLY MY LEADERSHIP CAME FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS
AND THEY STAYED AT THE HOLIDAY INN AND THEY CAME
OVER AND WE HAD MEETINGS FOR TWO DAYS, AND GUESS WHO THEY
GOT TO MEET? RB.
SO RB, OUR RIVERBAT, THIS IS OUR HOLIDAY GREETING CARD
THAT WE'RE SENDING OUT TO EVERYBODY AND MY TEAM WANTS
TO SEND YOU ALL A MERRY CHRISTMAS.
AND THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO SHARE AND I WILL TAKE AS
MANY QUESTIONS AS YOU WOULD LIKE.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU SO MUCH, DOCTOR.
REALLY APPRECIATE IT. AND WHAT YOU'RE CALLING SOFT
SKILLS I REALLY THINK OF AS ESSENTIAL SKILLS.
>> RIGHT. >> SO VERY GOOD.
SOFT, EMPLOYABILITY. >> GREAT.
WHO DO WE HAVE QUESTIONS FOR?
STEPHANIE, GO AHEAD. >> FIRST OFF, DR. FLETCHER,
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.IS WORK.
IT'S VERY EXCITING AND IT'S OBVIOUSLY ANOTHER AREA WHERE
WE ARE LEADING NATIONALLY. SO IT'S ALWAYS EXCITING TO
HEAR WHAT SO MANY OF THESE BRIGHT STARS OF OUR COLLEGE
LIKE THE PEOPLE LIKE YOU ARE DOING.
I JUST HAD A QUICK QUESTION ABOUT THE INCUBATOR AND I
KNOW ONE OF THE ADVANTAGES OF BEING IN THE INCUBATOR IS
BEING ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF INTERNS WHO ARE ACC
STUDENTS AND IT'S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS TO
GET HANDS ON WORK EXPERIENCE IN THE FIELD.
I'M JUST CURIOUS IF AS PART OF BEING IN THE INCUBATOR
THERE ARE ANY GUIDELINES AROUND HOW INTERNS WHO WORK
IN THE INCUBATOR ARE COMPENSATED?
>> OH, THEY'RE PAID BY THE INCUBATOR AND THEY'RE ALSO
PAID BY THE COMPANIES. BUT THE INCUBATOR ACTUALLY
HAS FUNDING TO PAY THEM. THAT IS REALLY
IMPORTANTMENT. >> IS THERE A THRESHOLD
FOR -- LIKE A MINIMUM THAT WE TRY TO PAY INTERNS WHO
ARE WORKING IN THE INCUBATOR?
>> IT'S EQUIVALENT TO WHAT'S BEING PAID IN INDUSTRY.
AND I SEE THAT MIKE IS THERE.
>> I JUST WANT TO MENTION THAT WE HAVE SEVERAL
DIFFERENT THINGS THAT STUDENTS ARE DOING IN
INCUBATOR. IT'S SORT OF EVOLVED A
LITTLE BIT BECAUSE WE HAVE STUDENTS WHO ARE PAID BY ACC
WHOSE JOB IS TO MAINTAIN AND RUN THE LAB.
SO THOSE STUDENTS -- THEY'RE NOT THE SAME STUDENTS OVER
THE LIFE OF THE INCUBATOR, BUT THEY CYCLE IN AND OUT AS
THEY'RE PRIMARILY IN THE BIOTECH PROGRAM AS A STUDENT
THERE. SO WE HAVE THOSE STUDENTS
AND THEN WE HAVE STUDENTS, WHICH LINNEA POINTS OUT,
DIRECTLY FOR THE COMPANIES AS INTERNS FOR THE
COMPANIES.DON'T KNOW THE NUMBER. WE'VE HAD SEVERAL OF THOSE
WHO HAVE ACTUALLY THEN BEEN HIRED BY THE COMPANIES AFTER
THEY GRADUATED SO THAT'S A NICE CONNECTION AS WELL.
>> SPECIFICALLY FOR -- FOR COMPANIES THAT ARE ABLE TO
BE IN THE INCUBATOR AND ABLE TO WORK DIRECTLY WITH ACC
STUDENTS, DO WE HAVE A POLICY THAT SAYS ONE OF THE
PRIVILEGES THAT YOU GET BY BEING HERE IS THAT YOU ARE
MAKING COMMITMENTS TO PAY OUR STUDENTS A CERTAIN BASE
AMOUNT? >> YES, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE
HAVE AN ACTUAL BASE AMOUNT BECAUSE THAT WOULD VARY A
LITTLE BIT. >> RIGHT.
>> DEFINITELY WITHIN HOURLY RATE SO NO ONE IS MAKING
LESS THAN THE $15 AN HOUR. SO ACTUALLY WHEN WE HAVE
INTERNS WHO ARE TRULY AT ACC IN OUR PROGRAMS, WE DO IN A
VARIETY OF AREAS AND THAT IS THE RATE AS WELL.
IT IS THE EXPECTATION IF YOU ARE IN THE INCUBATOR AND YOU
ARE IN A PROGRAM THAT WORKS FOR HAVING AN INTERN, AND
ALMOST ALL OF THEM DO, THE EXPECTATION IS YOU WILL HAVE
STUDENT WORKERS. >> RIGHT.
AND WHAT'S REALLY NICE ABOUT IT IS, I KNOW TALKING TO
SOME OF THE COMPANIES, AND MIKE KNOWS THIS TOO, OF
COURSE, IS THAT SOMETIMES THEY'RE VERY LEERY ABOUT
THESE STUDENTS BUT ONCE THEY'VE HAD THESE STUDENTS
THEY REALIZE HOW WELL TRAINED THEY ARE AND SO THAT
HELPS WITH OUR VISIBILITY OF OUR PROGRAM.
AND THEY DO GET HIRED BY THESE COMPANIES.
>> I GUESS THE QUESTION I'M ASKING IS HOW IS OUR
EXPECTATION OF COMPENSATION BEING COMMUNICATED TO THOSE
EMPLOYERS AND HOW ARE WE -- >> PART OF THEIR CONTRACT.
>> IT IS PART OF THEIR CONTRACT TO BE --
>> I KNOW HAVING BEEN ON THE SELECTION COMMITTEE FOR
THESE COMPANIES, THEY ARE EXPECTED TO TAKE A ROLE IN
EDUCATION, LET'S PUT IT THAT WAY.
YES, THAT'S PART OF IT. >> BUT IS INTERN
COMPENSATION IN THEIR CONTRACT?
I THINK THAT'S MY QUESTION. >> STEPHANIE, I DON'T KNOW
THAT THE ACTUAL AMOUNT IS IN A CONTRACT.
I'D HESITATE TO SAY IT WAS. I'LL FIND OUT AND WE'LL LET
YOU KNOW IF THAT'S THE AMOUNT IS WRITTEN IN.
I DO KNOW ONCE AGAIN THAT FOR ALL OF OUR INTERNS THAT
WE PLACE IN VARIOUS COMPANIES IN VARIOUS PLACES,
WE USE IN GENERAL TERMS -- I'LL STOP SHORT OF SAYING WE
DO IN ALL CASES, BUT GENERALLY WE'RE USING OUR ON
OWN HOURLY SCALE. AND IT'S AT THE LOW END
BECAUSE THEY'RE AN INTERN AND THE COMPANY IS WILLING
TO WORK WITH THEM. IT'S A LEARNING EXPERIENCE AS MUCH
AS A WORK EXPERIENCE. THEY ARE THERE TO LEARN.
NOW, CLEARLY IT BENEFITS THE COMPANY TOO, BUT THE COMPANY
SENDS TIME WITH THEM DOING THAT.
FOR EXAMPLE, IN OUR HACA INTERNSHIPS WE USE THE $15
AN HOUR STANDARD THAT WE HAVE FOR ALL THE INTERNS
THERE.SO IT WILL BE VERY SIMILAR BUT I'LL GET NUMBERS FOR
YOU. >> THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.
I DO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE MIGHT BE SOME DIFFERENCES
WHERE WE ARE THE ONES WHO ARE PROVIDING THE STIPEND
VERSUS AN EXTERNAL EMPLOYER. I THINK WHAT'S UNIQUE ABOUT
THE INCUBATOR VERSUS ALSO OTHER PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE
IS THAT THERE'S A LOT MORE TO THE DEAL THAN JUST
RECEIVING INTERNS. THERE'S THE SPACE AND
EVERYTHING ELSE THAT COMES WITH IT.
>> AND THE EQUIPMENT! >> AND THE EQUIPMENT.
SO I WOULD IMAGINE THAT WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE
LEVERAGE IN THE RELATIONSHIP THAT COMES WITH EMPLOYERS
INVOLVED IN OUR INCUBATORS TO HAVE MORE CONVERSATIONS
AND REQUIREMENTS AROUND HOW WE ALSO COMPENSATE THE
STUDENTS. >> IT'S NOT EASY TO BE A
START-UP SOMETIMES. >> ANYBODY ELSE?
>> OR AN INTERN. >> YES, THANK YOU.
OKAY. THIS IS SO EXCITING!
I'M JUST REALLY -- I WISH I COULD GO BACK AND DO IT ALL
OVER AGAIN. >> THERE'S A FAST TRACK IF
YOU WANT TO TRY IT. >> ALL RIGHT!
SO THERE IS A FAST TRACK. I THINK THAT WAS KIND OF ONE
OF MY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT. SO TWO QUESTIONS OR SEVERAL.
ONE OF THEM IS HOW DID TEXAS END UP WITH A NUMBER TWO,
NUMBER THREE AND NUMBER SIX? I MEAN, THAT IS NOT AN
ACCIDENT. SO I KIND OF WONDERED IF YOU
COULD TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.
SECONDLY, I WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT WHAT THE HIGH SCHOOL
PROGRAMS LOOK LIKE AND HOW THEY'RE MARKETED.
AND WHAT KIND OF KNOWLEDGE OR PREPARATION DO THE
STUDENTS NEED TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH THOSE PROGRAMS AND
ARE THEY EARLY COLLEGE HIGHSCHOE OFFERED IN THAT WAY?
>> SO I CAN TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR DUAL
CREDIT PROGRAM. IT ACTUALLY HAS BEEN IN
EXISTENCE FOR ABOUT 30 YEARS BECAUSE IT WAS THE FIRST
GRANT I GOT FROM THE NSF WAS TO START HIGH SCHOOL BIOTECH
MAINLY IN TEXAS, BUT OUR LOCAL AREA.
IT IS EQUIVALENT TO YEAR ONE OF MY PROGRAM AT THE
COMMUNITY COLLEGE, AND THE TIME IS EQUIVALENT IN TERMS
OF THE NUMBER OF HOURS IN THE CLASSROOM.
RIGHT NOW IT VARIES HOW MANY HIGH SCHOOLS ARE INVOLVED
DEPENDING ON THE QUALIFICATIONS OF TEACHERS
AND WHO IS THERE. RIGHT NOW WE'RE AT LASA,
WE'RE AT NAVARRO, WE WERE AT ELGIN.
AND WE WERE AT LANIER, BUT LOOKING TO INCREASE IT, THE
NUMBER BACK TO -- IT USED TO BE LIKE 12 SCHOOLS.
THEY HAVE TO TAKE THE SAME PRACTICALS, THEY LEARN THE
SAME INFORMATION AND THEY HAVE THE SAME EQUIPMENT.
AND OUR ENTRY LEVEL CERTIFICATE IS AT THE HIGH
SCHOOLS AND WE FELT THAT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT.
AND THEY DON'T NECESSARILY GOOD JOBS.
THEY USE IT WHEN THEY GO OFF TO THE FOUR-YEAR SCHOOL OR
IF THEY COME INTO MY PROGRAM.THE TITLE I HIGH SCHOOL,
LIKE NAVARRO, THOSE STUDENTS WILL COME INTO MY PROGRAM,
BUT LOTS OF STUDENTS GO TO FOUR YEAR SCHOOLS AND WORK
IN LABS INSTEAD OF DELIVERING PIZZA, SLATES.
WE WANT TO KEEP TRACK OF ALL OF THEM BECAUSE WE WANT TO
KNOW WHAT THEIR CAREER OPTIONS ARE.
DOES THAT ANSWER -- IN TERMS OF REQUIREMENTS, THEY JUST
HAVE TO TAKE NINTH GRADE BIOLOGY BECAUSE -- AND THEN
WE ENCOURAGE, OF COURSE, THEM TAKING CHEMISTRY WHILE
THEY'RE IN HIGH SCHOOL ALONG WITH THE BIOTECH COURSES.
THE REASON WHY WE DO THAT IS WE TRY TO TEACH ALL THE
BIOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY THEY NEED WITHIN THE PROGRAM
ITSELF BECAUSE WE FOUND DOING APPLIED SCIENCE WAS A
BETTER WAY TO ENGAGE THE STUDENT THAN ESSENTIALLY
COURSES REQUIRING CHEM ONE FIRST AND THEN HAVING THEM
DO BIOTECH BECAUSE THEN THEY GOT TO SEE HOW THE CHEMISTRY
WAS USED. AND THAT DID A BETTER JOB OF
RECRUITING STUDENTS WHO NEVER THOUGHT THEY COULD BE
IN SCIENCE. WHICH BY THE WAY IS MY
NAVARRO STUDENTS. IN TERMS OF WHY DO I THINK
THE STATE OF TEXAS HAS -- I TELL YOU SOMETHING
INTERESTING ABOUT TEXAS. WHEN YOU START LOOKING AT
BIOSCIENCE IN OTHER STATES. RIGHT NOW THE COMPANIES ARE
LEADING CALIFORNIA. THEY'RE -- LEAVING
CALIFORNIA. THEY'RE LEAVING THE EAST
COAST. IT COSTS A HUGE AMOUNT OF
MONEY TO OPERATE A BIOMANUFACTURING FACILITY IN
THOSE STATES. THERE'S ACTUALLY A REPORT
OUT THAT I CAN SEND TO YOU FROM THE AUSTIN BUSINESS
JOURNAL THAT COSTED OUT THE COST OF RUNNING BIOTECH
FACILITIES IN TEXAS WAY CHEAPER THAN OTHER STATES.
THERE'S ONLY -- INDIA IS CHEAPER, BUT THAT'S A LITTLE
BIT FURTHER THAN THE UNITED STATES.
SO RIGHT NOW TEXAS IS THE PLACE TO BE, ESPECIALLY IN
GENE THERAPY AND VACCINE PRODUCTION.AND YOU KNOW WE HAVEL
PRIZE LAUREATE AT MD ANDERSON THAT THE IN GENE
THERAPY SO THAT IS HUGE. AND ON TOP OF IT WHEN YOU
READ THAT REPORT YOU WILL SEE INCIDENT KNOWVATION
DISTRICT FOR DELL IS A HUGE DRAW AND THE I.T. BUSINESS
IN AUSTIN. AND THAT'S WHAT'S DRIVEN US
TO BE NUMBER THREE. HOUSTON WAS ALREADY GOING TO
BE NUMBER HIGH BECAUSE OF WHAT IT ALREADY HAD IN TERMS
OF M.D. ANDERSON. AND DALLAS, DALLAS -- I
ACTUALLY WAS REALLY SURPRISED THAT IT WAS NUMBER
SIX, BUT THAT'S GREAT FOR US.
SO IS THAT PROBABLY TOO MUCH INFORMATION FOR YOU GUYS?
>> ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
OKAY. GREAT.
THANK YOU FOR A FANTASTIC, VERY ENERGIZING REPORT.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR PASSION AND COMMITMENT TO THIS AREA,
AND YES, WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE AT ACC TOO.
SO THANK YOU. >> I HAD A COMMENT, I'M
SORRY. >> I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION,
I JUST HAVE A QUICK COMMENT. I JUST WANTED TO SAY I
LOOKED AT YOUR WEBSITE THAT YOU'VE SET UP, AND IT GIVES
YOU A LOT OF DETAIL ABOUT HOW WE PICK OUR PARTNERS AND
WHO WE TALK TO, THE APPLICATION PROCESS -- THE
APPLICATION PROCESS AND COMPANIES AND STUFF LIKE
THAT. SO IT'S A LOT OF RESOURCES
WITHIN THAT WEBSITE. IT'S VERY CLEAN AND EASY TO
FOLLOW AS WELL. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
>> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.
>> THANKS SO MUCH. >> OKAY.
WE HAVE ONE MORE UNDER GOVERNANCE - COBBY CAPUTO.