U of A's Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences and the U of A Community College at Morrilton have signed a memorandum of understanding for students majoring in food science.

Bumpers College, its Department of Food Science and UACCM have created a 2-plus-2 transfer degree program with two concentration options.

UACCM students who earn an associate of science degree in liberal arts can complete their junior and senior years in Fayetteville and earn a bachelor's degree in agricultural, food and life sciences with a major in food science and concentrations in either food science or food technology.

The purpose is to provide opportunities for students using the Arkansas Transfer Achievement Scholarship, a planned sequence of coursework at UACCM and to give students greater access and preparation for careers in agricultural industries in Arkansas, the region and across the nation.

"We are continuously looking for opportunities to connect with students from all areas of the state and make it possible, and easier, for them to transition from community college, high school or another university into the U of A and Bumpers College," said Dean Deacue Fields. "We're happy to form this relationship with students and faculty at UACCM and looking forward to working with them. We also created an agreement with UA-Cossatot recently, and this newest agreement gives us a direct connection with another community college in the UA System. Our goal is to help all students find their career path and passion through one of our majors."

The MOU calls for students to complete their first two years in Morrilton, to follow the course curriculum, have a minimum grade point average of 2.0 and earn an associate of science degree in liberal arts.

The U of A curriculum includes classes such as Sensory Evaluation of Food, Introduction to Food Law, Sanitation and Safety, College Physics, Chemistry, Principles of Food Biochemistry, Food Chemistry, Food Analysis, Food Processing, Food Microbiology and more.

UACCM is responsible for delivery of courses for the first two years and transferring approved course credits to the U of A, managing facilities, recruiting new and continuing liberal arts majors, and providing academic advisement and faculty mentoring. The U of A will promote the transfer degree program, manage participating students, manage its facilities, provide scholarship opportunities and faculty mentoring, advise students eligible for the Arkansas Transfer Achievement Scholarship, assist students with internship placement, provide tours of campus and facilities and participate in recruiting activities at UACCM.

The Arkansas Transfer Achievement Scholarship provides discounted tuition to students who earn an associate of arts, associate of science or associate of arts in teaching degree at a UA-System institution and wish to transfer to the U of A in Fayetteville.

In February, Bumpers College announced the creation of two 2-plus-2 transfer degree programs with the University of Arkansas-Cossatot Community College.

UA-Cossatot students who earn an associate of science degree in agriculture business may complete their junior and senior years in Fayetteville and earn a bachelor's degree in agricultural business with a concentration in agricultural business management and marketing through the Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness.

UA-Cossatot students who earn an associate of science degree in agriculture education may complete their junior and senior years in Fayetteville and earn a bachelor's degree in agricultural education, communication and technology with a concentration in agricultural education through the Department of Agricultural Education, Communications and Technology.

About the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences: Bumpers College provides life-changing opportunities to position and prepare graduates who will be leaders in the businesses associated with foods, family, the environment, agriculture, sustainability and human quality of life; and who will be first-choice candidates of employers looking for leaders, innovators, policy makers and entrepreneurs. The college is named for Dale Bumpers, former Arkansas governor and longtime U.S. senator who made the state prominent in national and international agriculture. For more information about Bumpers College, visit our website, and follow us on Twitter at @BumpersCollege and Instagram at BumpersCollege.

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $2.2 billion to Arkansas' economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the top 3% of U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research News.