Tremendous growth in West Virginia University’s first-of-its-kind Forensic Identification Degree Program coupled with a change in leadership have prompted University officials to make changes within the baccalaureate program beginning with the fall semester.
The program’s two majorsforensic and investigative science and biometric systemswill now be offered as two separate bachelor of science degrees under new directors, WVU Provost Gerald Lang said.
The forensic and investigative science degree program will be part of the curricula offered by the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences under the direction of Clifton Bishop, while the biometric systems degree will be offered by the Lane Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering within WVU ’s College of Engineering and Mineral Resources, under the direction of George Trapp and Larry Hornak.
Like most new multi-disciplinary academic programs, forensics was initially located within the provost’s office under the direction of Michael Yura. Dr. Yura recently left the University to take a position with the National Biometrics Security Project.
“Under Michael’s leadership, this program developed into the fastest growing degree program on campus,”said Lang, noting that early numbers indicate about 550 incoming freshmen want to pre-major in one of the two fields.”With the steady growth and change in leadership, now seems to be the perfect time to make this academic shift and ground these majors into the appropriate colleges.”
The program was established in December 1997 when the University and the FBI signed an agreement that led the way for WVU to become the first university in the world to offer a degree in forensic and investigative science and biometric systems. Biometrics uses unique physical”signatures”like a fingerprint or retinal scan as identifiers; forensic science uses scientific indicators such as blood, DNA and hair strands. Because of 9/11 and the increased focus on homeland security, the program’s enrollment has skyrocketed and currently has some 350 majors and pre-majors. Just over 300 students are interested in forensics while around 40 are studying biometrics.
“Over the past five years, Michael did an excellent job promoting this degree program, establishing a nationally-recognized curriculum and making the necessary contacts for it to grow,”Lang said.”Anytime you start a new academic program, it either succeeds or fails. In the case of forensics, it has succeeded beyond anyone’s wildest dreams. WVU is now at the forefront in developing academic competencies necessary for various disciplines within the field of forensic science and biometrics.”
Roughly 90 percent of the students majoring or pre-majoring in the program have indicated forensic and investigative science as their field of study, Lang said. This growth has forced the University to make a significant investment, he noted.
“We plan to hire three to four new tenure-track faculty members in the forensic and investigative science program,”Lang said.”The dramatic increase in enrollment has necessitated this. We also will continue to employee a number of part-time faculty who are attorneys, judges, police officers and FBI employees.”
Last January, the University added an information assurance/biometrics specialization to three of it’s master’s programs. This fall, graduate certificate programs will be offered in computer forensics and forensic accounting.
Along with academics, WVU also is leading the way in research and service associated with forensics and biometrics.
The University is home to the Biometrics Knowledge Center, formed to foster scholarly biometric research, to connect that research with economic development and to conduct outreach programs to enhance public awareness and understanding of biometrics.
WVU also serves as the home for the Center for Identification Technology Research, or CITeR. WVU developed CITeR with three other universities to serve as the first comprehensive academic center for biometrics. The goal of CITeR is to further the development of biometrics through new technologies research, interdisciplinary training of scientists and engineers and facilitation of the transfer of this technology to the private and government sectors.
The Forensic Science Initiative at WVU is a multi-disciplinary research and education collaboration in areas related to forensic sciences.
“Clearly, our forensics and biometrics initiatives have given WVU recognition nationally and internationally, and are attracting students to the University,”Lang added.”We must and will invest in the future of these programs.”