This proposed project focuses on (a) bringing together a coalition of educators, scientists, industrial partners, and curriculum developers to establish a strategy for the TPAD technician preparation program; (b) developing a curriculum to provide "hands-on" enhancement opportunity to college instructors in the area of biotechnology; (c) assessing the strategy on an annual basis by the coalition together with outside expert advice and input; and (d) collaborating with industry to develop the required 2-year TPAD reagents and equipment. At the commencement of the project, the Coalition will meet to determine the most effective strategy to initiate and address the project' s specific goals and objectives previously outlined. Undergraduate 2-year college faculty for the project will be recruited locally for each of the summer workshops. The emphasis will be on the East and West Coasts, where the biotechnology industry is concentrated and where the need for technicians is greatest. At the completion of summer workshops, the faculty participants will complete a general evaluation and questionnaire. The faculty practical implementation of experiments in technician TPAD curriculum. There will be a total of 102 faculty participants, over a four-year period. Other institutions which will participating in this project include Seattle Central Community College, Cerritos College, Northern New Mexico Community College, and Prince George's Community College.
