U of A Plan Designed to Increase Graduates in Science, Engineering and Math

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The College of Engineering at the University of Arkansas – in partnership with the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences and the Global Campus – is spearheading an initiative to increase the number of students who successfully transfer to the U of A from the state’s two-year colleges and earn bachelor’s degrees in one of the science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields, known collectively as STEM.

This project begins with the development of four online courses in summer 2013 that will be offered to the state’s two-year colleges in spring 2014. The goal is to provide online undergraduate STEM courses at the level of rigor that students at two-year colleges need to achieve academic success in STEM bachelor’s degree programs at the University of Arkansas.

 These classes in calculus, physics and engineering are part of an overarching program aimed at increasing the number of Arkansas students who graduate with associate’s and bachelor’s degrees in STEM fields.

“For the state of Arkansas and its flagship higher education institution, the University of Arkansas, getting involved and making sure that a project like this one comes to fruition is not an option; it is a crucial need,” said Provost Sharon Gaber in a letter to the National Science Foundation. “The benefits of STEM enrollment growth will be felt directly by both the state and its employers, as more STEM jobs will stay in Arkansas, and be filled by Arkansans.”

The university recently submitted a grant proposal to the National Science Foundation to seek funding for this program, which will create an academic partnership between two- and four-year institutions in Arkansas.

“While occupations requiring a STEM degree are growing, the United States is falling behind other countries in graduating students with these degrees,” said Terry Martin, who served as interim dean of the College of Engineering this past year. “At the College of Engineering, we are committed to our goal of increasing the number of highly trained engineers entering the workforce, and this program will contribute greatly toward that goal.”

Receiving the grant will accelerate the program’s momentum, but the university plans to continue the program in the future, regardless of whether the grant is approved, said Javier A. Reyes, vice provost for distance education.

Bryan Hill, assistant dean of student recruitment, honors and international programs at the College of Engineering, is leading the effort to build the program.

 “The U of A’s Global Campus staff are the experts in terms of online education,” Hill said. “By partnering with their expertise, the academic colleges are able to maximize the benefits while minimizing costs to develop a quality online education. The College of Engineering appreciates this support in expediting the rollout of the first four courses in this very important initiative.”

The Global Campus supports the university’s academic colleges and schools in the development and delivery of online and distance education programs and courses. It provides instructional design services, access to national distance education organizations, and assistance with strategic academic program development.