A cooperative program increasing minorities and women in engineering

The Fort Valley State College (FVSC) Cooperative Developmental Energy Program (CDEP) in collaboration with the energy industry has developed a technology-oriented labor base for minorities and women. CDEP established a 3+2 dual-degree in Mathematics and Electrical Engineering with the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV). This is a successful collaboration between a Historical Black College, FVSC, and a major research university, UNLV. The first dual-degree engineering student graduated in August of 1996. As September of 1996, there are 50 students enrolled in the five year dual-degree program. CDEP operates three other programs that support the dual-degree engineering program. They are: the pre-college Mathematics, Science, and Engineering Academy for 8th through 12th grade; a networking group of high school counselors from 18 states that channel students into the CDEP´s dual-degree programs; and the Minority Student Summer Energy Internship Program (MSSEIP)