FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Chancellor David Gearhart of the University of Arkansas and Associate Vice President Isaac Crumbly of Fort Valley State University, Georgia, will formally sign an agreement to establish dual degree programs in geosciences at 4 p.m. Thursday, May 6, in Old Main 523.

“Such an agreement will not only result in new generations of exceptionally well-trained geoscientists, but will also advance our goal of increasing diversity in the student body at the University of Arkansas,” said Gearhart.

The student body at Fort Valley State University is 94 percent African American. Its Cooperative Developmental Energy Program is the only one of its kind in the nation, preparing students for energy-industry careers in science and geology.

Under the agreement, students will spend three years at Fort Valley State University, studying the liberal arts, sciences and mathematics. They will meet all requirements there for a bachelor’s degree in chemistry or mathematics, and then transfer to the University of Arkansas for an additional two years to complete requirements for the bachelor’s in geology. At the completion of their five years of study, they will have earned two bachelor’s degrees.

“Dr. Crumbly was the architect of these programs to create career pipelines for African American students interested in these industries. Fort Valley State University developed dual degree geology programs first with Penn State, the University of Oklahoma, and the University of Texas-Austin. Now, the University of Arkansas is also on board,” said Steve Boss, director of the environmental dynamics program in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences.

Participating students will be required to participate in a six-week summer field course and will have access to merit-based scholarships as well.

While on campus, Crumbly will also be awarded an honorary doctorate degree by the University of Arkansas. He has won $28 million in funding from government agencies and foundations, created 850 internships providing 320,000 hours of on-the-job training and $4.2 million in aid to finance the education of students of color, received the National Excellence Award presented by the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund Inc., and received a letter of commendation from President Ronald Reagan for exemplary achievements as an educator, researcher and role model.