Biotechnology/Life Sciences
Participating Secondary Schools:
Monroe Career and Technical Institute
East Stroudsburg, Pleasant Valley, Pocono Mountain, Stroudsburg and Wallenpaupack Area School Districts.
Participating Post-Secondary Schools:
Northampton Community College
East Stroudsburg University
Drexel University
Contact: Marie-Edouard Cantave
Phone: (570) 620-9221

Project Overview

A Workforce Leadership 2+2+2 Biotechnology Curriculum Grant was awarded to Northampton Community College (NCC) in February, 2004 by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) to help create a seamless educational pathway for students interested in biotechnology. This "2+2+2 pipeline" will allow students to transfer credits easily from secondary school partners to NCC and on to four-year University partners (see full list of partners below).  

NCC's biotechnology program and the Northeastern Pennsylvania 2+2+2 Biotech Education Project are both housed at NCC Monroe's Campus at the request of the second largest employer in Monroe County, sanofi pasteur, because the company needed more technicians who were trained in biotechnology to meet their current and future employment needs.

Activities

Since 2004, there have been several significant programs at the Monroe Campus of Northampton Community College: including a Biotech Summit for teachers and community leaders, Biotech Summer Camps for middle and high school students, Teacher In-Service Programs in Biotechnology and workshops to keep middle school kids excited about science including the popular “SMaRT (Science, Math and Related Technologies) Careers Choices for Girls" programs and SMaRT Workshops open to boys and girls in grades 6-9.

Biotechnology Summer Camp For High School Students Grades 10-12 July 23 - 26, 2007 NCC-Monroe Campus Tannersville Cost: $59 To register: 570-688-2494

Giselle Rosser, 8th grader from Lehman Intermediate School in Bushkill, PA is shown with the poster that won 2nd place in her age division in the 2006 BioDreaming nationwide poster contest sponsored each year by the Biotechnology Institute. She was presented with a framed certificate and a voucher for a free week of Biotech Summer Camp at Northampton Community College by Kathy Frame (left), VP for Educational Programs at the Biotech Institute. Click on the photo to see the Poster Detail.

Workforce Leadership 2+2+2 Grant Project Partners:

Secondary Level Career and Technical Centers

• Monroe Career and Technical Institute (MCTI) Bartonsville, PA

Secondary Level Schools and Districts 

• East Stroudsburg Area School District, East Stroudsburg, PA
• The Evergreen Community School, Mountainhome, PA
• Pleasant Valley School District, Brodheadsville, PA 
• Pocono Mountain School District, Pocono Summit, PA
• Stroudsburg Area School District, Stroudsburg, PA 
• Wallenpaupack Area School District, Hawley, PA 

2-Year Post-Secondary Level Institutions

• Northampton Community College, Bethlehem, PA (coordinating partner) 

4-Year Post-Secondary Level Institution

• East Stroudsburg University, East Stroudsburg, PA 
  Articulation Agreement 
• Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA
• Marywood University, Scranton, PA

Biotech Industry Advisors to the Biotech Grant Leadership Team

• sanofi pasteur, a vaccine manufacturer in Monroe County
• Life Sciences Greenhouse of Central Pennsylvania, Lehigh University Office