To increase the size of its student body, Carlow College is launching a program that will prepare students to examine bodies.
School officials announced Friday the creation of the Cyril H. Wecht Institute of Forensic Science and Law at Carlow College to prepare undergraduates to become autopsy specialists and forensic investigators. In addition, Carlow named Wecht, the Allegheny County coroner, its first distinguished professor in 74 years.
"Indeed, this institute will be an outstanding resource not only for Carlow College, but far beyond," said Sister Grace Ann Geibel, president of the college.
Carlow, a woman-centered Roman Catholic college in Oakland, has 2,271 students. It plans to accept transfer students into the forensics program in January and later about 25 students a year. Eventually, the program could enroll 100 students a year.
Wecht expects no problems in attracting students.
"The world is totally enthralled with the idea of forensics," he said, citing the popularity of such television shows as "CSI: Crime Scene Investigations" and "CSI: Miami." "Every day, we receive inquiries from students or parents beginning in elementary school: 'What do I have to do to be a forensic scientist?' "
Heather Huber, 27, of South Park, is the institute's first recruit. She received a bachelor's degree from Carlow in biology three years ago. She does research at Magee-Womens Research Institute, but has wanted to be an autopsy specialist since her first class in anatomy.
"I don't think there's a better way to learn forensics than to actually perform autopsies," she said.
Wecht distinguished Carlow's program from a forensics program at Duquesne University with which he also is involved. He said Duquesne's program is for graduate students and will not turn out autopsy technicians.
He said Carlow students will receive internships that will enable them to perform autopsies at the college's A.J. Palumbo Hall of Science and Technology and the coroner's office.
Joe Mancuso, Wecht's assistant, estimated there are 27 openings for autopsy technicians in Oakland alone.
