Higher education collaboration
UD, Cecil sign articulation agreement for engineering, business degrees
2:04 p.m., June 15, 2011--For more than a decade, the University of Delaware and Cecil College have been collaborating–bridging higher education through a partnership between neighboring states.
The two institutions furthered their relationship on June 9 at Cecil College in North East, Md., when Cecil College President Stephen Pannill and UD Provost Thomas Apple signed two articulation agreements, a product of the growing partnership between UD’s Office of Economic Innovation and Partnerships (OEIP) and the college.
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The agreements, involving Cecil College and UD’s College of Engineering and Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics, will enable students to take 70 credits at Cecil College and have them apply toward bachelor degrees at UD.
“Having the entrepreneurial spirit to reach out and partner across state lines will not only add value to our individual institutions but will prove critical to the future prosperity of our states, our region and indeed, the nation,” said Apple.
“These agreements clear the way for Cecil students to pursue what UD offers–impacting students, parents and employers,” Pannill said. “And is in line with base realignment and closure (BRAC).”
As a result of BRAC, Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG) will have a growing demand to develop employee skills. One of these important skills is the science of logistics and supply chain management. Through UD and Cecil’s work with the Army, the institutions see their educational partnership as a means to support the workforce and development at APG.
Calling the Army partnership a “major economic development opportunity,” David Weir, director of OEIP, said, “The potential here is huge. Cecil and UD are serving a need at APG and building a pipeline that will translate into further collaboration on research, continuing education and, hopefully, high-tech career opportunities for our graduates.”
Weir said he hopes OEIP will be able to facilitate further articulation agreements with Cecil College.
About OEIP
Since its formation in 2008, under the direction of former DuPont vice president for research and development David Weir, OEIP has worked with the state, Delaware Technology Park, numerous researchers and companies in creating a culture where innovation and entrepreneurship can thrive in Delaware. The Small Business Technology Development Center (SBTDC), a unit of OEIP, exists to strengthen Delaware's economic base by providing quality services such as management assistance, educational programs and resources to Delaware's business community and potential entrepreneurs.
Article by Meredith Chapman
Photo by Evan Krape