The Institute of Paper Science and Technology (IPST) has a long history of providing the paper industry with technically competent, industry-oriented graduates. IPST has recently embarked on several initiatives that offer new educational opportunities for students and will provide the paper industry with graduates who have a broader range of skills, interests, and expertise.

A Renewed Emphasis on Academic Excellence

During a series of interviews with IPST trustees on strategic directions for the Institute, the academic program was rated as the most significant source of IPST's contribution to the newly emerging, highly competitive paper industry. These discussions led to a renewed focus on academic excellence and a series of improvements to the IPST education program.

As of July 1, 2001, the Institute will improve its focus on academics through the formation of the new Graduate School for Paper Science and Engineering, one of four new centers of the Institute. The programs of study will be broadened beyond the traditional multidisciplinary scientific and engineering education-the Institute hallmark. New opportunities for students to incorporate business and leadership competencies have been developed in cooperation with the DuPree College of Management at Georgia Tech. Further, this partnership with the Georgia Institute of Technology (GT) provides opportunities for students to take a broad set of technical courses at Georgia Tech as well.

New Initiatives with Georgia Institute of Technology

Both students and future employers will benefit from enhancements to the IPST and GT partnership. Beginning this fall, students entering IPST with an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering will be able to work toward dual M.S. degrees from both IPST and Georgia Tech during their course of study. Once this program is in place, it will serve as a model for other dual degree programs in mechanical engineering, environmental engineering, and chemistry and biochemistry.

In addition, the establishment of joint faculty appointments between the two institutions and the direct involvement of selected Georgia Tech faculty in the dues-funded research consortium programs will provide increased benefit to all parties.

An option for IPST graduates to pursue a business Master's degree through the DuPree College of Management at Georgia Tech has also been recently established. Matthew Roberts, a 2000 M.S. graduate, became the first IPST graduate to matriculate into the DuPree College Master of Science Management program and received his M.S.M. degree from the DuPree College on May 5. By strategically selecting DuPree courses as electives while enrolled in IPST, Matt was able to compress the degree program into two semesters. Matt has recently taken a position with Jaakko Pöyry in Tarrytown, NY.

Center for Paper Business and Industry Studies Provides New Opportunities

On May 1, the new Center for Paper Business and Industry Studies (CPBIS) was inaugurated as a Sloan Industry Center formed with the resources of both IPST and Georgia Tech. This Center, housed at IPST, offers many opportunities for attracting and educating students interested in the business aspects of the pulp and paper industry. The CPBIS focuses the faculty of the DuPree College and the Ivan Allen College at Georgia Tech, as well as IPST faculty, on the business needs of the global pulp and paper industry. The CPBIS will provide the industry with a new breed of graduate that has skills, interests, and experience important to the global paper business.

This summer, Erik Lystad will be the first CPBIS student to take an internship. Erik has a B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering from Georgia Tech and recently received his Master's from IPST. He has been accepted as a Ph D. student at the DuPree School of Management in the fall with a full scholarship. Erik is the first CPBIS student and has taken an internship with Accenture, formerly Anderson Consulting. He will be studying global supply chain issues for the pulp and paper industry. His technical experience at IPST will provide him with the background that he needs to immediately be effective in studies on these important business issues.