College of Science, Cal Poly Pomona
Prioritization & Recovery Commentary 
June 16, 2006
How can a science-based education best be applied to real world situations? How can faculty expertise in science serve the needs of the community? These are two of the questions facing College of Science Dean Donald O. Straney at Cal Poly Pomona.
“As a polytechnic university, we need to be sure that we are teaching students absolutely the best science, that we have the most effective science education available in higher education,” says Straney. “And we must help students go beyond the notion of simply ‘learning’ science and provide them with opportunities to apply their knowledge to address real problems.”
Dr. Straney, who received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in zoology from Michigan State in 1973 and his doctorate in the same subject from UC Berkeley in 1980, strongly supports a hands-on educational program. As assistant to the provost for faculty development at Michigan State University, he served as the provost’s liaison on engagement projects with students and the local community, aiding in the development of university programs that engaged students with service-learning opportunities in the area. In addition, he has been actively involved with the National Science Foundation, the American Council on Education, and the American Association on Higher Education.
The College of Science comprises six interconnected disciplines including biological sciences, chemistry, computer science, geological sciences, mathematics, and physics. The College offers majors in ten fields and has pre-professional programs for students entering medical, dental, veterinary and other health-related careers. In addition to the major departments, there are associated institutes and learning centers, such as Science Educational Enhancement Services (SEES), the Center for Education and Equity in Mathematics, Science & Technology (CEEMaST) and BioTrek.
“The scholarly activity of the faculty is the engine that drives the College of Science,” Dean Straney observes. Faculty in the College have active research programs in every branch of science, and students have the opportunity to work with faculty on research projects. The College has strong interdisciplinary research programs in biomedical science, biotechnology, computational chemistry and physics, and environmental science. The College has received over $8.3 million in research grants and contracts since 1996.
The College of Science strongly supports faculty involvement in meeting community needs. Faculty in the College serve as a resource to local communities and to the nation, providing and serving on local, regional, state and national boards and committees.
“We are striving to achieve new levels of academic excellence,” says Straney. “We recruit faculty with an enthusiasm and passion for their science, people who can bring the excitement of their research into the classroom. Our success can be measured in how well we prepare students to apply their science education in their careers.”
