Utah lacks 4-year biotech degree

Veronica Cuevas is on her way. She took a biotechnology program as a junior in high school and subsequently got an internship and then a job at ARUP Laboratories. She's also attending Salt Lake Community College — making her the first member of her family to attend college.

But, in at least one way, she's stuck.

Cuevas, apparently like many young people in Utah, wants a four-year biotechnology degree, "and I guess there's nowhere in Utah, which really shocked me," she told the Legislature's Utah Technology Commission last week.

While SLCC and Utah Valley State College have set up a partnership for a four-year program, they lack the funding — about $1.3 million annually for the first five years — to make it happen.

"We've got a rapidly diversifying industry — many different segments of it," SLCC's Craig Caldwell told the commission. "That's a good thing to have. We want to expand that industry. We want to expand the flavors that we are serving in that industry. ...

"We have tremendous student demand. We have tremendous industry demand. The industry needs these students to grow. ... We are ready and able at this point to implement the four-year degree upon funding."

Utah's biomanufacturing, bio-pharmaceutical, biomedical devices and other biotech companies have "substantial needs," he said. Many have told him they want new hires with expertise in business management and regulatory oversight as well as entrepreneurial spirit, "and that's on top of the research and development," he said.

"There is nothing right now that exists in the state that is meeting that need," Caldwell said.

"Our students are interested. They want the advanced training that comes with a four-year degree. They're not unsophisticated students. They recognize the opportunities that develop through that ongoing education and training, and they want it."

SLCC offers a two-year biotech associate degree program established from a 2001 National Science Foundation grant, which also led to a partnership program with high schools in eight school districts for a single-year program.

Gina Sanzenbacher, biotech educator at Jordan School District, said many of her students have been hired right out of school.

"This was after one year of the high school program, and a lot of them want to go back and get an advanced degree, and they're asking me, 'Where can I go in the state?"'

Without funding, the answer is nowhere.