Contact:
Belle Woods
bwoods@cgs.nche.edu
(202) 223-3791

Washington, D.C. – Today, the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation announced that the Keck Graduate Institute has been selected to administer the Professional Science Master’s (PSM) Affiliation process.  The Sloan Foundation and CGS have worked together since 2006 to institutionalize and promote the PSM degree, an innovative graduate degree designed to allow students to pursue advanced training in science or mathematics, while simultaneously developing workplace skills highly valued by employers. Over the past decade, the PSM has been embraced enthusiastically by the graduate education community in a strong effort to produce the kinds of science and engineering professionals needed to keep the U.S. globally competitive. In only five years since 2006, the PSM has expanded from about 80 programs to 245 at about 115 institutions. By fall 2011 new PSM enrollments in PSM programs around the country had increased to 1,700 and total PSM enrollments to about 5,500.  [For more details, see www.sciencemasters.com]

The PSM Affiliation process is an integral part of establishing and maintaining high quality standards for PSM programs, and CGS has rigorously developed, vetted and disseminated Guidelines for PSM Affiliation used for reviewing and approving applications for PSM Affiliation. 

“CGS is delighted to be able to transfer administration of the PSM Affiliation process to an outstanding institution like the Keck Graduate Institute,” said Debra W. Stewart, CGS President.  She added, “The rapid growth of PSM programs is due not only to workforce needs, but is also a testament to the commitment to the PSM exhibited by so many stakeholders, including the Sloan Foundation and the National Professional Science Master's Association.”

“The Keck Graduate Institute and its innovative set of graduate programs embody the PSM model of education,” said Paul Joskow, President of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.  He continued, “Building on the good work of CGS and our other partners in this process will ensure that PSM degrees continue to grow in stature and visibility. The goal is to educate highly-skilled professionals who combine strong backgrounds in science, mathematics and engineering with expertise in business fundamentals such as financial and project management, communication, and business ethics.”

Founded in 1997, the Keck Graduate Institute of Applied Life Sciences (KGI) is the only graduate school in the world devoted exclusively to educating future leaders for the life science industry. KGI is the newest member of the Claremont Colleges and represents the consortium’s first entry into graduate-level, application-based scientific research and education. Their unique educational model was designed from the ground up in collaboration with leaders from both the life sciences industry and the academy. They actively seek advice of a 50-member corporate advisory council and have a Board of Trustees with members who represent leading life science companies.

“The Keck Graduate Institute is honored to be selected and we look forward to providing leadership for this important degree program which we consider an essential component in the U.S. innovation agenda,” said Sheldon Schuster, President of the Keck Graduate Institute.

CGS will continue to manage and staff the existing Affiliation process until the transfer of responsibility has been completed, expected to be by July, 2012. CGS intends to transfer its license for the PSM logo to KGI.