Page 26 - Alcorn Magazine - Spring, 2019

Alcorn State And Mississippi State Partner In
poultry science
Alcorn State University and Mississippi State University have partnered to launch a dual degree program.
Alcorn Interim President Dr. Donzell Lee and MSU President Dr. Mark E. Keenum signed a memorandum of understanding to estab- lish the program that will allow students to earn bachelor’s degrees from both universities.
With this new program, Alcorn students can complete 91 hours toward a Bachelor of Science in agriculture science with a focus in animal science. Students can then transfer to Mississippi State to complete the remaining 31 hours in coursework for a Bachelor of Science in poultry science at MSU. Upon completion of the MSU coursework, students will graduate from both institutions with two bachelor’s degrees.
Lee said this partnership is a great opportunity for both institutions.
“I am delighted about the partnership,” Lee said. “Working togeth- er, ASU and MSU will have a great impact on one of the largest in-
dustries in the state by creating a pipeline of competent individuals who can jump right into leadership positions.”
Keenum said the new program would provide a range of bene ts for both students and the poultry industry, the state’s largest agricultur- al enterprise, topping $3 billion in value last year alone.
“ is is an opportunity for two leading land-grant institutions to work together to prepare even more professionals and leaders for one of our state’s most important industries,” Keenum said. “Mis- sissippi State o ers 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 o ers.”
Marketing the program at Alcorn is the rst step for program ad- ministrators this spring, and the colleges hope to start gaining stu- dents to the program by fall 2019. Students in the dual degree pro- gram will apply to MSU as transfer students and meet admission requirements. A component of the MSU curriculum includes an internship at a poultry processing plant during the summer.
24 #GOBRAVES