Continuing studies receives gift to fund students through 'Managing in the Life Sciences' certficate program

A recent $45,000 award to the IU-Bloomington School of Continuing Studies will fund 50 students to complete the school's "Managing in the Life Science" certificate program over the next two years. \nThe gift was granted as part of Indiana's Strategic Skills Initiative, a workforce development program started last year by Gov. Mitch Daniels' administration, according to a press release. \n"This grant money gives us the opportunity to not only give some students a chance to further their careers by providing tuition assistance for them to complete this program," said Ron White, director of Bloomington Continuing Studies. "It also allows Bloomington Continuing Studies to contribute to the economic development of the area by being able to provide the program as part of our professional development curriculum."\nThe certificate program consists of five courses -- Introduction to the Life Sciences Industry, Teamwork and Communication in the Life Sciences Industry, Managing Projects in the Life Sciences Industry, Regulatory Affairs in the Life Sciences Industry and Organizational Development in the Life Sciences Industry. According to the press release they are designed to prepare mid- and upper-level managers to build or further their careers in the industry. \n"The manufacturing process in life sciences companies requires managers who excel in a variety of technical areas, from project management to regulatory affairs," said Jim Shea, program director of Professional Development Programs. "We're pleased this grant award recognized that our program addresses these and other crucial skills for life sciences managers." \nThe Indiana Strategic Skills Initiative is a program designed to help identify occupational and skill shortages and then fund grants to local consortia to develop solutions to address the shortages, according to the press release. The recent award is part of a larger grant given to the new regional workforce board on behalf of a consortium of workforce and economic development officials from the state's economic growth Region 8, according to the release. \n"The Bloomington Life Sciences Partnership applauds the investment of Strategic Skills Initiative funds to our Region 8 workforce board and IU Bloomington Continuing Studies to offer supervisory training through the Managing in the Life Sciences program," said Steve Bryant, director of the Bloomington Life Sciences Partnership. "Region 8 will be greatly impacted as program graduates find jobs at life sciences firms in the area"