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Appendix I Recommendations for Masterâs Education in Reports of Leading Science, Innovation, and Higher Education Organizations Federal support for research and graduate and postdoctoral educa- tion should respond to the real economic needs of students and promote a wider range of educational options responsive to national skill needs. Federal strategies should: ⢠Ensure that federal stipends for graduate and postdoctoral stu- dents provide benefits and are competitive with opportunities in other venues; ⢠Invest in innovative approaches to doctoral and masterâs educa- tion that prepare students for a broad range of disciplinary and cross- d  isciplinary careers in academia, government, and industry; and ⢠Provide consistent, long-term support for high-quality disciplinary and interdisciplinary doctoral training programs in S&E. âNational Science Board, Science and Engineering Workforce: Real- izing Americaâs Potential, NSB-0369 (2003) http://www.nsf.gov/nsb/ documents/2003/nsb0369/nsb0369.pdf. The Professional Science Masterâs Degree concept provides an alterna- tive for students interested in STEM areas but not interested in the lengthy time it takes to obtain a Ph.D. The concept was launched in 1997 through the help of the Sloan Foundation and the Council on Competitiveness. Today, this type of degree is available at 45 universities. The Administra- tion should strongly advocate these programs. 123
124 SCIENCE PROFESSIONALS âPresidentâs Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, Workforce/Education Subcommittee, Sustaining the Nationâs Innovation Ecosystem: Report on Maintaining the Strength of Our Science and Engineer- ing Capabilities (June 2004) http://www.ostp.gov/PCAST/FINALP- CASTSECAPABILITIESPACKAGE.pdf. TALENT: Build a National Innovation Education Strategy for a diverse, innovative and technologically trained workforce: ⢠Establish tax-deductible private-sector âinvest in the futureâ schol- arships for American S&E undergraduates ⢠Empower young American innovators by creating 5,000 new por- table graduate fellowships funded by federal R&D agencies ⢠Expand university-based Professional Science Masterâs and train- eeships to all state university systems ⢠Reform Immigration to attract the best and the brightest S&E stu- dents from around the world and provide work permits to foreign S&E graduates of U.S. institutions âCouncil on Competitiveness, Innovate America: Thriving in a World of Challenge and Change, National Innovation Initiative Report (Decem- ber 2004) http://www.innovateamerica.org/webscr/report.asp. Increase the retention rate of undergraduates in science, technology, engineering and math majors by expanding programs such as NSFâs Sci- ence, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Talent Expansion Pro- gram (STEP Tech Talent), and by offering programs such as the Profes- sional Science Masters that encourage college graduates to pursue fields outside of academia that combine science and/or math with industry needs. Encourage private sector involvement in consortia of industries and universities that establish clear metrics to increase the number of graduates. (Higher Education, Business, Federal, State) âU.S. Chamber of Commerce, Tapping Americaâs Potential: The Education for Innovation Initiative (2005) http://www.uschamber.com/ publications/reports/050727_tap.htm. Continue to establish and build on professional science masters pro- grams that meet specific science and technical managerial workforce needs identified by the federal government, business, and industry. âAssociation of American Universities, National Defense Educa-
APPENDIX I 125 tion and Innovation Initiative: Meeting Americaâs Economic and Secu- rity Challenges in the 21st Century (January 2006) http://www.aau. edu/reports/NDEII.pdf. The professional masterâs degree is a promising new initiative that is shaping graduate education in direct response to changing workforce needs in the business, nonprofit, and government sectors. â¦In the STEM fields, the PSM combines advanced study with professional and interdis- ciplinary training. The two-year PSM degree includes four basic compo- nents: advanced science or mathematics courses which comprise approxi- mately two-thirds of requirements; âplusâ courses in business principles and other professional skills, such as written and oral communication, intellectual property, and entrepreneurship; a summer internship in a targeted employment sector; and a capstone project often done as part of an interdisciplinary team. PSM programs are specifically designed to meet the needs of local, nonacademic employers with input from advi- sory boards representing the employment sector. . . . The combination of advanced science or math, interdisciplinary exposure, and professional business skills creates highly adaptable graduates interested in innova- tion. As such, the PSM can serve as a model for professional stand-alone masterâs degrees in a wide range of fields. . . . Recommendation: Continue to expand innovative professional masterâs degrees in order to address pressing national needs in such critical fields as mathematics, science, engineering, social sciences, and humanities. âCouncil of Graduate Schools, Graduate Education: The Backbone of American Competitiveness and Innovation (April 2007) http://www. cgsnet.org/portals/0/pdf/GR_GradEdAmComp_0407.pdf. Professional Science Masters (PSM) programs are useful tools for helping states meet the increasing need for well-trained problem solv- ers in technology-based industries. PSM is an innovative new graduate degree developed to provide advanced training in science or mathemat- ics while simultaneously developing workplace skills highly valued by employers. Many postsecondary institutions and, increasingly, states are adopting PSM as a tool to meet workforce needs. In 2006, the California State University (CSU) became the first statewide higher education system in the nation to make PSM degrees available on multiple campuses. CSUâs PSM-degree programs have been developed in concert with the growth industries in biotechnology, medical, and computational sciences. âNational Governorâs Association, Innovation America: A Compact for Postsecondary Education (July 2007) http://www.nga.org/Files/pdf/ 0707INNOVATIONPOSTSEC.PDF.
126 SCIENCE PROFESSIONALS PROGRAMS AUTHORIZEDâThe Director [of the National Science Foundation] shall award grants to 4-year institutions of higher education to facilitate the institutionsâ creation or improvement of professional sci- ence masterâs degree programs that may include linkages between insti- tutions of higher education and industries that employ science-trained personnel, with an emphasis on practical training and preparation for the workforce in high-need fields. âU.S. Congress, America COMPETES Act (H.R. 2272), passed by the U.S. Congress and signed by the President of the United States (Summer 2007) http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc. cgi?dbname=110_cong_bills&docid=f:h2272enr.txt.pdf. Note: All web sites accessed October 26, 2007.