UA Plan Aims To Increase STEM Grads

The University of Arkansas College of Engineering, the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, and the UA’s Global Campus will offer online classes to students at two-year schools starting in 2014 to prepare them for math and science-based courses at the university.

Four online courses in engineering, calculus and physics will be offered to students at two-year colleges at the same level of academic rigor as will be needed to complete a bachelor’s degree at the UA. The goal is to increase the number of graduates with associate’s and bachelor’s degrees in so-called STEM fields – science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

In a news release from the university, Terry Martin, interim dean of the College of Engineering this past year, said, “While occupations requiring a STEM degree are growing, the United States is falling behind other countries in graduating students with these degrees. 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.”

While the university has submitted a grant proposal to the National Science Foundation for funding, it plans to continue the program regardless of whether or not the grant is approved.

The program is being led by Bryan Hill, assistant dean of student recruitment, honors and international programs at the College of Engineering.

The Global Campus supports the development and delivery of online and distance education programs and courses.