A new cooperative agreement establishing a dual-degree program between Bethune-Cookman College (BCC), a Historically Black College and University in Daytona Beach, Florida founded in 1904 , and the University of South Florida College of Engineering was signed on 11/29/06 by USF President Judy Genshaft and BCC President Trudie Kibble Reed. Under this program, undergraduates may attend Bethune Cookman College for three academic years and then the College of Engineering at USF for the next two years. Upon completion of the academic requirements of both institutions, the student will be awarded a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics from BCC and a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Chemical, Civil, Electrical, Mechanical or Industrial Engineering from USF.
The collaboration between the two institutions started as early as April 2003 with an invitation by Bernard Batson, Program Coordinator at USF’s College of Engineering, to Dr. Morrison Obeng, Head of the Department of Engineering at BCC, to visit USF’s College of Engineering to explore partnership initiatives with the Integrative Graduate Education Research Trainee program (IGERT) – an NSF sponsored interdisciplinary research-training program for doctoral students at USF. During the visit, discussions began on how to develop innovative pathways for BCC students to pursue undergraduate degrees in engineering programs not available at their home institution as well as graduate degrees at USF. The idea of establishing a 3 + 2 dual-degree program for undergraduate students was consequently born. In the spring of 2005, a group of representatives for USF’s College of Engineering - Dr. Carlos Smith, formerly Associate Dean for Academics, Dr. Sylvia Thomas, Assistant Dean for Diversity and External Affairs, and Bernard Batson traveled to BCC to meet with the Provost, other key university administrators, faculty, and students to discuss and finalize the details of this 3 + 2 agreement.
Both institutions believe that this newly established program provides an excellent educational opportunity for students to benefit from the resources available at both institutions. This 3 + 2 program of study will increase the number of minority engineers and scientists in national areas of emergent need by providing these students with access to a number of fellowships and research opportunities to pursue graduate studies at USF in science and engineering, and help USF become a national leader in the graduation of minority scientists and engineers.
