The university recently solidified its relationship with the Wareham-based Smithers Viscient with the signing of a memorandum of understanding.
The agreement will facilitate continued cooperation between BSU and the company on several fronts, primarily in the area of internships. This continues a longstanding connection between the two entities: 30 percent of Smithers Viscient’s workforce is comprised of Bridgewater graduates.
“It’s been a good relationship,” said Susan Shepherd, who was appointed president of the company last year, and who has a certificate of graduate study from Bridgewater. “We’ve been really impressed with the caliber of students.”
The relationship works because “our students have an incredible work ethic,” President Dana Mohler-Faria said, adding that the university’s strengthened focus on the sciences has also made these same students valuable out in the field.
“I hope this partnership continues to grow,” the president said.
The company performs environmental and consumer safety contract research and regulatory services for the crop protection, pharmaceutical, industrial chemical, and the consumer product industries, according to its website.
Most students who work at Smithers Viscient do so as summer interns. However, that could expand into semester-long opportunities with an eye toward post-graduate employment, said John Bowman, the company’s manager of human resources.
Incoming President Frederick Clark Jr. said he looks forward to working with Smithers Viscient.
“We’ll continue to emphasize the sciences and increase our focus on internships,” he said, calling the company, “a hidden gem” in the region.
Dr. Diana E. Jennings, director of the Office of Regional Partnerships, said Smithers Viscient’s mission is well aligned with several of BSU’s key concerns, namely sustainability and social justice.
After the signing, approximately 30 BSU students, potential interns, were scheduled to tour the company’s Wareham facility. (Story and photo by John Winters, G’11, University News)