1. Joint Graduate Program in Biomedical Engineering at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University

2. Background BME Graduate Program founded 1968 in the School of Medicine at UNC BME Graduate Program founded 1968 in the School of Medicine at UNC BME Graduate Minor founded 1992 in the College of Engineering at NCSU BME Graduate Minor founded 1992 in the College of Engineering at NCSU Joint BME Graduate Program founded 2003 Joint BME Graduate Program founded 2003

3. Why a Joint Program? UNC gains closer ties with College of Engineering UNC gains closer ties with College of Engineering NCSU gains closer ties with School of Medicine NCSU gains closer ties with School of Medicine Combined facilities and expertise enhance opportunities for students Combined facilities and expertise enhance opportunities for students Serve as focal point for interinstitutional research Serve as focal point for interinstitutional research

4. Distinguishing Factors Located at two universities Located at two universities In concept, students belong to both universities In concept, students belong to both universities Each student has a “home” university for purposes of records, funding, and administration Each student has a “home” university for purposes of records, funding, and administration Students have full privileges at both universities Students have full privileges at both universities

5. Distinguishing Factors Distance learning and teleconferencing Distance learning and teleconferencing Single joint program director Single joint program director Joint program committees Joint program committees Common curriculum and qualifier exam procedure Common curriculum and qualifier exam procedure Educational requirements to meet graduate school standards of both universities Educational requirements to meet graduate school standards of both universities Unique bi-institutional diploma Unique bi-institutional diploma

6. Funding and Research Funded by the provosts of both institutions Funded by the provosts of both institutions Separate accounts on each campus for academics and research Separate accounts on each campus for academics and research Shared research facilities between institutions Shared research facilities between institutions Collaborative research efforts Collaborative research efforts

7. Barriers to Creating the Program Approvals from faculty, schools, universities, Board of Governors Approvals from faculty, schools, universities, Board of Governors Recurring budgets and research funds Recurring budgets and research funds Joint students require dual id numbers, registration, parking passes Joint students require dual id numbers, registration, parking passes

8. Positive Experiences Envisioned and proposed jointly from the faculty at the two institutions Envisioned and proposed jointly from the faculty at the two institutions Enthusiastically supported and promoted by the chancellors, provosts and deans of both institutions Enthusiastically supported and promoted by the chancellors, provosts and deans of both institutions Approved promptly by Board of Governors Approved promptly by Board of Governors Positively received by continuing and new students Positively received by continuing and new students Actively supported by administrative staff at both institutions Actively supported by administrative staff at both institutions

9. Challenges Two longstanding research institutions with individual cultures Two longstanding research institutions with individual cultures Competitive spirit and institutional loyalty Competitive spirit and institutional loyalty Separate administrative procedures at different universities Separate administrative procedures at different universities Different faculty appointments (9 vs. 12 month) Different faculty appointments (9 vs. 12 month) Distinct graduate school requirements (required course hours, examinations, transfer credits) Distinct graduate school requirements (required course hours, examinations, transfer credits) Incomplete transcript when a student changes home institution Incomplete transcript when a student changes home institution

10. Current Status 23 faculty, 13 staff, 103 graduate students 23 faculty, 13 staff, 103 graduate students 2.8 M recurring state funds and 3.7 M research grants 2.8 M recurring state funds and 3.7 M research grants Next steps are to graduate the first PhDs, audit cross registrations, and increase enrollment Next steps are to graduate the first PhDs, audit cross registrations, and increase enrollment Research funding is potential barrier to growth Research funding is potential barrier to growth