Missouri S&T and Southeast Missouri State University have established a new partnership that will provide students with a streamlined pathway to engineering degrees while expanding access to engineering education in southeast Missouri. 
 
Leaders from both universities took part in a signing ceremony Friday, July 17, at Missouri S&T’s Innovation Lab to celebrate the new Cooperative Engineering Pathway Program.  
 
The program will allow students to complete their first two years of engineering education at SEMO before transferring to Missouri S&T to earn bachelor’s degrees in civil engineering, electrical engineering or mechanical engineering.  
 
“This partnership shows what public universities can accomplish when they work together for the benefit of students and the state of Missouri,” says Dr. David Borrok, vice provost and dean of S&T’s College of Engineering and Computing. “Students will be able to begin their education closer to home and then transition to Missouri S&T to earn a degree from one of the nation’s top engineering schools. Together, we’ll help meet the growing demand for highly skilled engineers in Missouri and across the nation.” 
 
Borrok says faculty and staff from both universities will coordinate curriculum, advising and student support to help ensure a smooth transition to Missouri S&T.   
 
Dr. Tamela Randolph, dean of SEMO’s College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, says the partnership will provide more opportunities for students from southeast Missouri. 
 
“SEMO has a strong tradition of preparing students for success in STEM fields, and this partnership opens even more doors for students who want to pursue engineering careers,” Randolph says. “Our engineering faculty will provide students with an excellent foundation that prepares them to thrive when they transition to Missouri S&T.” 
 
As part of the agreement, SEMO will also promote mathematics preparation opportunities offered by both institutions to help students prepare for success in S&T’s courses. 
 
Both universities will collaborate on recruitment efforts and regularly evaluate the program to help ensure student success. 
 
The program will launch this fall. To learn more, visit semo.edu/engineering or contact Dr. Brad Deken, SEMO’s chair of engineering and technology, at bdeken@semo.edu. 

About Missouri S&T

Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) is a STEM-focused research university of over 7,000 students located in Rolla, Missouri. Part of the four-campus University of Missouri System, Missouri S&T offers over 100 degrees in 40 areas of study and is among the nation’s top public universities for salary impact, according to the Wall Street Journal. For more information about Missouri S&T, visit www.mst.edu.