Biotechnology
The North Coast Tech Prep Way
What is North Coast Tech
Prep Biotechnology?
A Northeast Ohio program
uniting school systems, colleges
and businesses, to provide high
school students the opportunity
to receive college credit (14
semester hours) and valuable
training in an emerging field
North Coast Tech Prep
Biotechnology Overview
Evolution of Program
Development of
Partnerships/Pathways
Targeting of Students
Program Maintenance
The Evolution of Biotechnology in the
North Coast Tech Prep Consortium
2001 - Industry, Business, Educators and North
Coast Tech Prep Representatives begin
exploration
2002 - Initial draft of TCP presented
2003 - First Articulation Agreement requires
students to successfully complete one week
summer bridge course at Cuyahoga Community
College directed by Dr. Steven Leidich
2003 - First Programs Begin (Parma)
Program Evolution (continued)
2004 - Bedford, Medina Country Career
Center (Cloverleaf), Mayfield Excel Tech
2005 - Tri Heights (Cleveland Heights, West
Shore Career Technical Education District
(Lakewood))
2006 – Strongsville High School
2007 - New Articulation agreement
substitutes Exit Exams for Bridge Course under continued supervision of
Dr. Steven Leidich
The North Coast Tech Prep Team
Early Developmental Activities
Decision made to target atypical group for
Tech Prep - High Achieving College Bound
– Why should high achievers be ignored by
Tech Prep Programs?
– Changing job market and economy
Northeast Ohio is a fast growing Biotech Center
– Encourage brightest minds to consider a
career in science
– Avoid “brain drain” in state of Ohio
Early Developmental Activities
Decided to have programs within each
High School (Taught by High School
Teachers)
Required Teacher Training
– Tech Prep Academy
– OARDC Biotechnology Summer Workshops
– Panel of Experts Interview
– Biotech Industry Summer Externships
– Lab Safety Seminar
– State Licensure
Developmental Activities
Teachers within the consortium:
– meet at least four times after school
– meet twice a year for entire day
develop standard labs and lists of equipment
required
plan on workshops/conference attending
developed Course of Study
Course of Study is modified to meet standards
develop common 1st and 2nd semester exams
continual modification of common assessments
plan recruitment strategies
Pathways and Partnerships
Local High Schools
Cuyahoga Community College
Local Biotechnology Industries
North Coast Tech Prep
Biotech Pathway - BHS
Four Year Pathway (at least “B” average
in all)
– Freshmen Year - Honors Biology I
– Sophomore Year - Honors Chemistry I
– Junior Year
Physics or AP Chem
Pathways
– Senior Year Biotechnology
– Students meet for at least 80 minutes per day
– Year long course
– Must earn “B” average to receive any credits
When entire pathway has been successfully
completed then:
– Student receives credit for CCC BIO 1500
(4 semester hours)
– Student receives credit for CCC CHEM 1010
( 4 semester hours)
– Is eligible to take Exit Exams for a potential of 6
additional semester hours of college credit
Pathways
Senior Year Exit Exams
– Under direction of Dr. Steven Leidich CCC
– Introduction to Biotechnology = Credit for BIO
1700
– Lab Ability Exit Exam = Credit for BIO 1710
– 70% required in Exit Exams for credit
If students passes Exit Exam for BIO 1700 but
fails the Exit Exam for BIO 1710, student receives
credit for BIO 1700 only and vice versa
Pathway Technical Requirements
Standard Operating
Procedures (SOP’s)
Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE’s)
Good Laboratory
Practice (GLP’s)
Aseptic Technique
Solution (% and
Molar) and Dilution
Preparation
Scientific Lab
Notebook
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
Laboratory Certification
Micropipettes
Microcentrifuges
Gel Electrophoresis
Protein
Electrophoresis
Spectrophotometry
Chromotography
Polymerase Chain Reaction (thermocycler)
Program Maintenance
Former Students
Biotech Advisory Committee
Refined Recruitment Procedures
Career and Technical Directors Continued
Support
North Coast Tech Prep Financial and
Curricular Support
CCC Technical Support and Exit Exam
Refinement
What Happens to Biotech
Graduates?
Most head to four year colleges and
continue on science career pathway
–
–
–
–
–
Pharmacy
Medical
Undergraduate Research
Microbiology
Engineering
CCC and then to four year school
CCC Associate’s Degree
Immediate Employment in Biotech Field
Student Testimonials
Sarah Polly: The summer after I graduated in 2006, I had
the opportunity to do a student research fellowship at the
research lab at Akron General Hospital. If I had not taken
the Biotechnology class, I simply would not have been
qualified for the lab work involved in the fellowship. All of
the other students working there were in medical school,
but between my experience in the Biotech class and the
week in the lab at Tri-C I was familiar enough with basic
lab equipment, procedures, and terminology to quickly
catch up.
Student Testimonials
Kayleigh Pasek: the biotech program has been a huge
help in most of my science classes here. When asked
how many of the 273 students in my biochemistry class
had used a PCR and run gels before, I was one of maybe
20 people who could say yes. Most of the equipment we
used in biotech, such as the Spec20, PCR and gels, were
used again in my labs. It was a real plus being able to
go into it with some past experience. The experience I
gained is still being used even into my third year of
pharmacy school.
Student Testimonials
Patricia Abrudan: The Biotech program has played an
instrumental role in my life, even after leaving high
school. It has helped me not only decide what I want to
major in, but it has helped me to accomplish things that
would not have occurred without it. I have been selected
to receive a National Science Foundation grant and
scholarship. My biotech credits gave man an advantage
in showing my lab skills. The program also gave me the
confidence in my abilities that carried over to labs in
college. Many of my colleagues at college do not really
see the long term benefits that come from lab work
because they didn’t have a program like biotechnology to
spark their interest.