Masters for the new millenium.

UPEI adds new Masters of Science programs in biology and chemistry.

By Sarah Murphy News Editor

By January, students will be able to earn an M.Sc at UPEI.

On September 20, 1999 the Maritime Prov- inces Higher Education Commission (MPHEC) approved UPEI’s proposal to offer master’s programs in biology and chemistry.

“I guess people may be surprised that it has come about so soon after the university act was changed. But the faculty of science had for some- time now wanted to present graduate pro-

“the faculty of science had, for sometime now,

| wanted to present graduate programs”

grams, and so we were well prepared for the change in the act,” say Dr Roger Gordon, Dean of Science at UPEI.

The faculty of sci-

ence had already under- gone some planning, and had a good idea of the type of program it wanted to offer.

“We asked all the

departments whether

already established at the Atlantic Veterinary Col- lege (AVC). Master of

Science programs were

' previously limited to the

AVC; students will now have many new options. Graduate studies

they thought they were ready to present gradu- ate programs, and whether that was the next mission in mind for them. Biology and chemistry felt that they had a sufficient number of faculty members and that they were ready to present [graduate] programs in their de-

The faculty of science wants to maintain a small program, with an enrollement of approximately 14

students, and already, ©

students are ready to enroll.

partments,” says Gordon.

Gordon insists that other departments in science will be able to take advantage of the biology and chemistry graduate programs. The Family and Nutritional Science department has already shown interest.

The programs will be research-based, with an emphasis on developing students’ research and communication skills. The graduate courses will be presented by faculty members within the biology and chemistry departments, incorporat- ing external expertise when appropriate.

Students will take graduate-level courses

is not new at UPEI. In recent years, a number of graduate students have been supervised by UPEI faculty members.

“I think perhaps what a lot of people don’t realise is that we have been supervising graduate students for a long period of time at UPEI,” says Gordon. “These students have been supervised by faculty members who have had adjunct appoint- ments at other institutions and at the AVC. Institu- tions such as Memorial University, Mount Allison, Dalhousie and P Université de Sherbrook.”

The faculty of science

wants to maintain a small program, with an enrol- ment of approximately 14 students, and already, students are ready to enrol.

“Two students are ready to join immediately and another two students

are likely to be entering

the program early in the new year, says Gordon, who explains that the number of graduate students enrolled in the program is likely to fluctuate. “It is a bit like a sin curve. About a year or so ago we had twelve graduate students in science in various depart- ments and we only have a couple or so now.” “This is very good news for PEI and the University,” says UPEI President, H. Wade

“It [the success of the graduate program] will heightening of people’s awareness that this is a first rate university,”

MacLauchlan. “These new programs will broaden UPEI’s research capacity and raise our profile in important new areas of innovation.”

_ Gordon agrees. “I think the more likely advantage from UPEI’s

perspective is that I think it will enhance the quality of our program. Our undergraduate students will have the opportunity to mingle and be ; mentored by graduate students and this is a very valuable role at an institu- tion.”

Graduate students will be present in the laboratory, and facilitating tutorials. The faculty believes that even the social interaction between graduate students and undergraduates will be excellent for all students in the faculty.

“It [the success of the graduate program] will heightening of people’s awareness that this is a first rate university,” says Gordon.

Gordon believes the graduate program is a win-

win situation.

“The students ben- efit because we are going to be able to offer stu- dents the opportunity to do graduate work here.”

Of course, Gordon is aware that there is a lot of value in students getting their undergraduate degree at UPEI and then

continuing on to another institution for their own

careers and professional

development but as he points out, some students are unable to do that.

Also, incoming stu- dents will enhance the graduate program, making