BLOOMINGTON – Ivy Tech Community College’s Bloomington campus has selected Sarah Cote, associate professor of biotechnology, as the 2015 recipient of Ivy Tech’s President’s Award for Excellence in Instruction. She was selected among 42 other full-time faculty nominees.
“I want to congratulate Sarah on being selected as recipient of this prestigious regional campus award, having been nominated by both students and faculty,” said Chancellor Jennie Vaughan. “Her commitment to student success, serving the community, and bringing resources to campus for life sciences initiatives truly represents the mission of the college.”
Cote’s nominations highlighted her commitment to student learning and her engaging classroom style. She implements an environmental science service-learning project and hosts the Super Science Saturday event each year, which attracts 200 to 300 participants from the community to Ivy Tech’s Indiana Center for the Life Sciences. Cote is an integral part of the grant writing team for biotechnology programming at Ivy Tech Bloomington.
“Our Associate of Applied Science in Biotechnology program works to provide a steady pipeline of educated workers for the biotech industry,” Cote said. “Of the 52 AAS graduates in Biotechnology, 41 are working in a biosciences relevant position or have decided to continue their education in the biosciences. That’s nearly 80 percent of our graduates.”
Interns and graduates of Ivy Tech Bloomington’s biotechnology program are employed at Cook Pharmica, BioConvergence, Baxter, Bradford Soap Works, Ivy Tech Community College, AB Biotechnologies, and Upland Brewery. Additionally, students work at other locations outside of the Bloomington area such as Eli Lilly and Dow Agrosciences.
“At AB Biotechnologies, two thirds of workers are graduates of our biotechnology program,” Cote said.
AB Biotechnologies expects to have 20-25 new biotech jobs available in the coming year.
By 2017, Cook Pharmica predicts it will need to fill 70 new biotech positions.
In addition to the AAS in Biotechnology that prepares students for careers, Ivy Tech Bloomington offers an Associate of Science in Biotechnology, which is designed to transfer seamlessly to Indiana University’s biotechnology bachelor’s degree program.
The President’s Award is given annually to a full-time faculty member from each of the regions of the College. As recipient of this award, Cote is also the nominee for the statewide Ivy Tech Glenn W. Sample Award for Excellence in Instruction, to be presented by the College in April. The Sample Award is presented to one full-time faculty member who best typifies the teaching and learning mission of the College.
About Ivy Tech Community College
Ivy Tech Community College is Indiana's largest public postsecondary institution and the nation's largest singly accredited statewide community college system, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana and also serves thousands of students annually online. It serves as the state's engine of workforce development, offering associate degrees, long- and short-term certificate programs, industry certifications, and training that aligns with the needs of the community. The College provides a seamless transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana, as well as out of state, for a more affordable route to a bachelor's degree.
