Oct. 1, 2008

LIVINGSTON, Ala.--The University of West Alabama and the University of Alabama today announced a program designed to encourage Black Belt students to seek engineering degrees through the universities’ dual-degree partnership.

The agreement establishes a course of study allowing undergraduates to attend UWA for three years before transferring to the UA College of Engineering. After completing the academic requirements at both cooperating institutions, a student will receive a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from UWA along with a bachelor’s degree in engineering from UA.

With a new US Steel facility coming to Sumter County, UWA President Richard D. Holland hopes this program will encourage students in the University’s service area who have never considered engineering to explore the career opportunities.

“Many of our current and prospective students have the capabilities to pursue an engineering degree, but they may not be aware of the possibilities that lie before them,” Holland said. “It is our intention to identify and cultivate these promising students.”

Because the University of Alabama hosts engineering programs in local high schools, UA College of Engineering Dean Charles L. Karr says he sees the new partnership as a natural pipeline leading high schoolers to UWA before completing their degrees in Tuscaloosa.

“At UA, we are excited because this program will help alleviate the shortage of engineers in Alabama,” Karr said. “From Huntsville to Sumter County to Mobile, the state needs a strong foundation in math and science to reach our full economic potential.”

For additional information about the dual-degree program, contact Dr. Thomas Ratkovich, UWA mathematics department head, at 205-652-3723 or tratkovich@uwa.edu.