Contact: Allison Matthews
Photo by: Russ Houston
STARKVILLE, Miss.--Mississippi State University and Tougaloo College signed a memorandum of understanding Monday [Oct. 20] to enhance educational and research opportunities in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, collectively known as STEM.
The agreement is an initial commitment of the two institutions to enter a relationship which will develop over time, with individual academic disciplines expected to develop more specific details by mutual consent.
MSU President Mark E. Keenum said he looks for great things to come to the two schools in the days ahead.
"We are immensely honored and proud to partner with Tougaloo, a very prestigious college that we can partner with for the future of our students," Keenum said.
"Tougaloo College is extremely pleased to collaborate with Mississippi State University and appreciates the opportunity to increase the pool of science, technology, engineering and mathematics students," said Tougaloo College President Beverly Wade Hogan. "This is a red-letter day for both institutions as we begin this historic partnership."
The MOU outlines several joint objectives of the institutions, both accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, including:
--Early identification of qualified Tougaloo students who can benefit from joint academic and research activities with MSU.
--Opportunities for qualified students to earn credit at Tougaloo College and transfer credit to selected MSU degree programs to earn a master's degree.
--Mutual bachelor's and master's degree programs in which Tougaloo College students can earn a master's degree at MSU in selected STEM disciplines after completing a bachelor's degree at Tougaloo College.
--Special doctoral degree program opportunities in selected STEM disciplines at MSU in which Tougaloo students will be selected jointly by the institutions to continue graduate work after completion of a degree at Tougaloo College.
--Collaborative research opportunities between the two institutions in selected STEM disciplines.
--Opportunities for the exchange of faculty members and/or students.
--Joint submission of grant proposals to fund cooperative educational and research endeavors.
The signed agreement became effective with Keenum's and Hogan's signatures and will remain in effect for a term of five years, unless the parties renew to extend.
For more about Tougaloo College, visit www.tougaloo.edu. For more information about Mississippi State, visit www.msstate.edu.