Faculty senate approves biopharmacy school

   Chapman's faculty senate approved a new graduate biopharmacy school by a vote of 19-8 Nov. 18. It would provide students with opportunities in the health sciences field, said Louise Thomas, president of the faculty senate.

   First proposed to the senate's executive board by Chapman administrators last summer, the school will be partnered with the Keck Graduate Institute of Claremont, Calif. The institute, which has programs in applied sciences, is part of the Claremont Colleges system.

   "A major reason for our thrust in health sciences graduate education is to provide our Schmid College undergraduates opportunities to continue their graduate health science education at our university," President Jim Doti wrote in an email.

   The proposal still needs to be reviewed by the board of trustees' financial committee, Doti wrote.

   The board of trustees for Keck Graduate Institute also needs to approve the proposal, Harold Hewitt, executive vice president and chief operating officer, wrote in an email.

   The school will initially be located in Claremont's existing facilities, Hewitt wrote. Chapman hopes to establish a location in Orange after it receives full accreditation but does not have a set timeframe because it is still being discussed.

   Chapman had hoped to use the Crystal Cathedral property to house the school. But after the university's bid was rejected in bankruptcy court, Chapman will now look for another location, Doti wrote.

   Expenses are expected to begin at $1.1 million, which will go toward faculty and staff salaries, Hewitt wrote. After several years, the cost is projected to reach $10 million. Over the next three to four years, Chapman and Keck Graduate Institute will invest $5 million each, with Chapman's portion coming from reserves. After full enrollment is reached, funds from tuition are expected to cover all expenses.

  The school will be available beginning fall 2014. The first class is estimated to be 80 students and the school is projected to have a full enrollment of 320 students after four years, Doti wrote.

   "After it's approved, the school will have to go through a professional accreditation process," Thomas said. "The accrediting body will prescribe certain required classes for the curriculum, but Chapman will have a chance to create more innovative classes that focus on research."

   The school will be a separate structure with its own dean, Thomas said. Doti wrote he is not sure how many degrees will be offered yet and that the search for the dean will begin soon.

   While the faculty senate votes are anonymous, Thomas said the dissenting votes could be because the project is a joint venture.

   "Those who opposed it may have thought it should be happening with Chapman alone and not in conjunction with some other institute," she said.

   Hannah Dwyer, a freshman English major, thinks the school is a good idea.

   "If the program is successful, it could bring students to Chapman who might not have necessarily looked at it for graduate school," Dwyer said.

   Marvin Meyer, professor of Bible and Christian studies in the religious studies department, thinks there are positives and negatives to the proposed school.

   "I like that Chapman is entrepreneurial and looking to grow and develop in new areas, but it is also important that we support the programs that are here too," Meyer said. "Hopefully we will be able to find money for this new school and continue to support already established programs at the same time."