News and Announcements
Restructuring the Doctoral Science Programs in the CUNY Decade of Science
In 2005 CUNY Chancellor, Matthew Goldstein, announced the CUNY Decade of Science, and launched a comprehensive initiative to boost science across CUNY. The initiative includes over $1 billion in new construction and modernization of science facilities, as well as the hiring of well over 100 science faculty across the university. A significant part of the initiative is the restructuring of the basic natural science doctoral programs of Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry and Physics. A key aspect of the doctoral program restructuring is a dramatic increase in support for doctoral students. The new CUNY Science Scholarships are comprehensive five-year support packages which includes a $24,000 annual stipend, health insurance and full tuition waiver. Every new doctoral studend in these four programs is awarded one of these scholarships.
Another important aspect of the doctoral science program restructuring is the way students are admitted and carry out their first-year program. In the past, students usually indicated a CUNY campus of interest when applying, and then became resident on that campus when they matriculated. Now, students apply to the Graduate Center, and spend their first year as Graduate Center students. During their first year, students learn about the research opportunities at the particpating CUNY campuses through the Science Orientation Day, by attending research fairs on the various campuses, and by doing lab rotations on the campuses. Each program has its own way of arrainging lab rotations, but each is committed to making students aware of their research options, so they are well-prepared to choose a research mentor at the end of their first year.
Formerly, first-year doctoral students taught undergraduate sections on the senior college campuses. Starting in the Fall of 2008, new students will not teach their first year. They will have a small service requirment related to professional development and research rotations. Most students with CUNY Science Scholarships will teach after their first year in the program.
Taken together, the changes in the doctoral science programs represent a major step forward, and constitute a critical element of the CUNY Decade of Science.
