Trustees Approve New Forensic Toxicology Degree Program

Trustees Approve New Forensic Toxicology Degree Program

A new master's degree in forensic toxicology at The University of Toledo would be the first of its kind in Ohio.

Forensic toxicology is a growing, applied discipline at the intersection of science and law that is dedicated to detecting, quantifying and interpreting toxic substances in biological systems for legal and investigative purposes, explained Dr. Pam Heaton, dean of the UToledo College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

The new online degree program was approved by the UToledo Board of Trustees at its September meeting. Pending approval from the Ohio Department of Higher Education, the program will be offered beginning Fall 2026.

"UToledo is uniquely positioned to launch this program," Heaton said. "Currently, no Ohio university offers a master's program focused exclusively on forensic toxicology, and only a handful exist nationally, but none with the comprehensive toxicology foundation that our College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences will provide."

Graduates of the program will meet a strong and increasing demand for forensic toxicologists for roles in state crime labs, medical examiners' offices and private forensic laboratories that prefer graduate-level training, Heaton said.

UToledo's courses will span molecular toxicology, forensic toxicology testing methods, the legal and regulatory environment, and laboratory quality systems, culminating in a capstone research project all under the instruction of expert faculty in the areas of toxicology and pharmacology.

The 30-credit-hour program is designed to be completed part-time over five semesters, making it a great opportunity for mid-career individuals seeking advancement in their careers. UToledo will also create pipeline opportunities for undergraduates in related disciplines, such as the bachelor's degree in drug discovery and design, to continue their training in the new online master's degree.

As required by the Advance Ohio Higher Education Act, also known as Senate Bill 1, the UToledo Board of Trustees approved a plan to offer a course in American civic literacy starting next fall semester for incoming undergraduate students.

UToledo will offer two options for students to meet the requirement, one through the Institute of American Constitutional Law and Thought and one through the Judith Herb College of Arts, Social Sciences and Education.

The required three-credit course includes a study of the American economic system and capitalism and requires students to read a number of documents, including the Constitution of the United States, Declaration of Independence, a minimum of five essays from the Federalist Papers, Emancipation Proclamation, Gettysburg Address, Letter from Birmingham Jail written by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and the writings of Adam Smith, including a study of the principles written in The Wealth of Nations.

The Institute's new course, CLT 2000 The American Constitutional Tradition, will examine the American constitutional order, from its philosophical origins in the ancient and modern Western tradition to the contributions of 20th-century political theorists.

The other course offered through the Herb College's Department of Political Science and Public Administration, PSC 1200 American National Government, is a modified course that studies the institutions, processes and politics of the government of the United States and its relationship to state governments.

The two courses provide different approaches to providing the required content. The PSC 1200 course requires the required readings in the context of the structure and function of the federal government. The CLT 2000 course requires analysis of the readings from a historical and philosophical perspective.

The plan approved by the Board of Trustees will be forwarded to the Ohio Chancellor of Higher Education for review and approval. In addition, trustees approved a resolution describing the exemptions from the American civic literacy requirement as prescribed in state law.

In his first President's Report to the UToledo Board of Trustees, Dr. James Holloway shared information on the value of a UToledo degree, the University's ranking on the recently released U.S. News and World Report 2026 Best Colleges list, the fall 2025 student enrollment data as of census day and a new initiative to provide new undergraduate students from Michigan the opportunity to attend UToledo at the in-state tuition rate beginning in Fall 2026.

The UToledo Board of Trustees also approved a capital spending authorization for the current fiscal year that will leverage proceeds from the University's parking system concession agreement to invest up to $40 million in facilities and infrastructure improvements.

Projects include improvements to student spaces, including the Thompson Student Union, residence halls and the Student Recreation Center. Additional improvements are planned aligned with the Campus Master Plan for academic, research and athletics spaces and information technology upgrades. Clinical investments include equipment replacement and facility upgrades.

In other business, Trustees approved updates to the University's competitive procurement authority and approval, setting the threshold for Board approval at $1.5 million for goods and services expenditures and $3 million for construction projects.

The internal audit plan for the fiscal year, a conveyance of a 15-acre parcel of property in the Northwest Ohio Advanced Technology Park near the UToledo Health Science Campus and an up to $5 million liquidation of investment funds of the University of Toledo Physicians Clinical Faculty, Inc. to fund UTP operations were also approved by trustees.

Finally, the University prepared its report of low-enrolled courses and programs and duplicate programs as required by the state. Of the 1,699 low-enrolled courses reviewed, a total of 428 were recommended for action, such as offering them less often, reducing section offerings, changing times or modality, or merging with other courses. Of the 28 low-enrolled programs reviewed, 13 were previously suspended. Lastly, 83 duplicate programs were reviewed. Of those, 26 will be reviewed for potential restructuring.