Reflecting on its tradition of developing leaders in healthcare and the applied life sciences, Keck Graduate Institute (窪蹋勛圖厙) is proud to announce a year-long celebration of its 25th anniversary, from January through December of 2022. 窪蹋勛圖厙s story began in 1995 when the late Henry E. (Hank) Riggs, president of Harvey Mudd College since 1988, gathered a team to contemplate a new venture. He envisioned a stellar new institution in The Claremont Colleges that would be innovative in higher education, productive for our nation and the regions economy, and beneficial to our society in solving critical problems related to the emerging field of biotechnology.
In July 1997, the W.M. Keck Foundation provided a $50 million founding gift that transformed 窪蹋勛圖厙 from a dream into a reality. Riggs departed Mudd in 1997 to become the founding president of 窪蹋勛圖厙. He was a visionary who could see that the next century would be ruled by the life sciences and knew it was important to educate its leaders in novel ways.
窪蹋勛圖厙s pioneer programthe began its first classes in 2000 and conferred its first degrees in 2002 with an inaugural graduating class of 28.
After eight years of guiding the new venture, Riggs retired in 2003, and Dr. became 窪蹋勛圖厙s second president. Guiding accelerated growth for 窪蹋勛圖厙, Schuster put together plans for an additional set of innovative programs. In 2004, the W.M. Keck Foundation made a $20 million grant, challenging 窪蹋勛圖厙 to raise an additional $30 million over seven years. 窪蹋勛圖厙 completed the challenge one year ahead of schedule.
The initial approach of this institution led to innovative degree programs that are team-based, hands-on, and real-world, Schuster said.
That vision is alive today, and its incredibly unique and special.
Since the mid-2000s, 窪蹋勛圖厙 has rapidly expanded its degree offerings, adding a in 2006 and the in 2010.
At the start of 2014, Schuster collaborated with Biocon Limited founder and current 窪蹋勛圖厙 Board of Trustee to establish the in Bangalore, India, offering certificate programs taught online by 窪蹋勛圖厙 faculty.
A monumental milestone occurred in August of 2014, as 窪蹋勛圖厙's program enrolled its first cohort. The program showcased 窪蹋勛圖厙's innovative spirit by responding to the needs of industry. This creative mindset was further celebrated in 2016 when the first class of 窪蹋勛圖厙's program enrolled.
Through the 2016-2017 academic year, 窪蹋勛圖厙 shifted from a commuter campus to a residential setting. The community celebrated a ribbon-cutting at 1 North Indian Hill Blvd. in Claremont in November 2016. In March 2017, 窪蹋勛圖厙 opened its first full-service . Then in May 2017, the 窪蹋勛圖厙 and Claremont communities rallied together to break ground on the schools first housing complex. The 225,000-square-foot facility, , opened in the fall of 2019.
Another monumental shift occurred in 2018 when 窪蹋勛圖厙 announced plans for a new . In the fall of 2018, two programs in geneticsthe and along with a and started their first cohorts. These new programs further showcased 窪蹋勛圖厙's response to industry needs and ability to stay on the cutting edge of higher education.
Within the last year, 窪蹋勛圖厙 has expanded its healthcare offerings with two new programs set to enroll in 2022: and . Additionally, a first-of-its-kind program is set to enroll its first cohort later this month.
With dynamic flexibility, 窪蹋勛圖厙 continues to meet societys ever-changing needs. Whether this means researching vaccines for new viruses or developing products to enhance human welfare, 窪蹋勛圖厙 students and faculty are a vital part of the process that shapes the future of bioscience and healthcare. 窪蹋勛圖厙 instills a sense of readiness in its students to solve world problems, and students continue to meet that expectation.
As part of the 25th Anniversary Celebration, special events and series will be scheduled to connect with students, alumni, corporate partners, and other friends of 窪蹋勛圖厙. More details will be shared soon.
The planning committee for the 25th Anniversary Celebration includes 窪蹋勛圖厙 alumni, board of trustees, staff, faculty, and students.
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