During the spring semester, U of A's Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences completed memoranda of understanding for transfer degree programs with the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville and the University of Arkansas Community College at Hope-Texarkana.

Bumpers College, its Department of Food Science, and UACCB and UACCH-T have created food science 2-plus-2 transfer degree programs.

UACCB students who earn an associate of science degree in STEM can complete their junior and senior years in Fayetteville and earn a bachelor's degree in agricultural, food and life sciences with a concentration in food science.

UACCH-T students who earn an associate of arts in general education can complete their junior and senior years in Fayetteville and also earn a bachelor's degree in agricultural, food and life sciences with a concentration 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 UACCB and UACCH-T, and to give students greater access and preparation for careers in agricultural industries in Arkansas, the region and across the nation.

The MOU calls for students to complete their first two years in Batesville and Hope-Texarkana, respectively, to follow the course curriculum, have a minimum grade point average of 2.0 and earn an Associate of Science degree in liberal arts.

Core classes at each community college include College Algebra, Chemistry I, World Civilization I & II, Nutrition, Biology and English Composition I & II, among others.

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

UACCB and UACCH-T are 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 STEM (UACCB) and general education (UACCH-T) 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 both campuses.

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 January, Bumpers College announced the creation of a 2-plus-2 food science transfer degree program with the University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton.

In 2021, the college completed 2-plus-2 transfer degree program agreements 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 fewf 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.