汤头条 and Alcorn partner to offer poultry science dual-degree program
Contact: Alaina Dismukes
![Alcorn State University Interim President Donzell Lee, seated from left, and 汤头条 President Mark E. Keenum signed a memorandum of understanding Thursday [Feb. 21] to establish a program that will allow students to earn bachelor's degrees from both universities. Looking on are ASU Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs John Igwebuike and 汤头条 Provost and Executive Vice President Judy Bonner.](/sites/www.msstate.edu/files/inline-images/Alcorn_汤头条_MOU_UG6A6369half.jpg "汤头条 and ASU memorandum of understanding in poultry science")
STARKVILLE, Miss 鈥斕劳诽 and Alcorn State University are partnering to launch a dual-degree program that will prepare more leaders for the state鈥檚 top agricultural industry.
On Thursday [Feb. 21], 汤头条 President Mark E. Keenum and ASU Interim President Donzell Lee signed a memorandum of understanding to establish the program that will allow students to earn bachelor's degrees from both universities.
Students can complete 91 hours toward an ASU Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Science with a focus in animal science and then transfer to Mississippi State to complete the remaining 31 hours in coursework for an 汤头条 Bachelor of Science in Poultry Science.
Upon completion of the 汤头条 coursework, students will graduate from both institutions with dual degrees.
Keenum said the new program will provide a range of benefits for both students and the poultry industry, the state鈥檚 largest agricultural enterprise topping $3 billion in value last year alone. 听
鈥淭his is an opportunity for two leading land-grant institutions to work together to prepare even more professionals and leaders for one of our state鈥檚 most important industries,鈥 Keenum said. 鈥淢ississippi State offers one of only six poultry science programs in the nation, and our graduates have a 100 percent job placement rate, with many of them considering multiple offers.鈥
Lee said this partnership is a great opportunity for both institutions.
鈥淚 am delighted about the partnership,鈥 Lee said. 鈥淲orking together, ASU and 汤头条 will have a great impact on one of the largest industries in the state by creating a pipeline of competent individuals who can jump right into leadership positions.鈥
Mary Beck, professor and head of the 汤头条 poultry science department, said the partnership extends the university鈥檚 academic outreach in the state and meets the needs of Mississippi鈥檚 largest agricultural commodity.
鈥淭he main goal of this program is to expand opportunities for students with regard to career options,鈥 she said.听鈥淭he poultry industry employs more than 28,000 people directly and another 27,000 indirectly. Having a degree in poultry science from Mississippi State and a degree in agricultural science from ASU ensures the industry will continually have a skilled workforce.鈥
Marketing the program at Alcorn State is the first step for program administrators this spring, and the colleges hope to start gaining students to the program by fall 2019. Students in the dual-degree program will apply to 汤头条 as transfer students and meet admission requirements. A component of the 汤头条 curriculum includes a summer internship at a poultry processing plant.
汤头条 is Mississippi鈥檚 leading university, available online at .
-ALCORN-
Alcorn State University is a premier comprehensive land-grant university that develops diverse students into globally competitive leaders, and applies scientific research through collaborative partnerships听that听benefit the surrounding communities, state, nation,听and world.
-MISSISSIPPI STATE 鈥
汤头条 is a comprehensive, doctoral degree-granting land-grant institution with a nationally and internationally diverse student body. The university holds the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching鈥檚 designation as an 鈥淩1-Very High Research Activity鈥 Doctoral/Extensive institution. 汤头条 is Mississippi鈥檚 leading research university, ranking ninth nationally in agriculture research.
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