Memorandum targets aerospace, agriscience, engineering
HUNTSVILLE, Ala.
— The presidents of MTSU and Alabama A&M University signed a
memorandum of understanding Friday (Dec. 13) that encourages greater
collaboration on faculty and student scientific research in the areas of
aerospace, agriscience and engineering.
MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee signed the agreement with
AAMU President Andrew Hugine Jr. following McPhee’s visit to campus as keynote
speaker for the commencement ceremony at the historically black university. Hugine
also awarded McPhee with the AAMU President Medallion for his career as a
higher education administrator.
Under the agreement, MTSU and Alabama A&M will actively
seek to participate in and enhance faculty and student research and training
programs, as well as provide access for each institution’s students to
education and training programs not available at the other.
MTSU will specifically provide AAMU students with access to
academic programs in the areas of engineering management, computational science
and its nationally recognized aerospace program, while AAMU will provide access
to MTSU students in the area of engineering.
“This partnership emphasizes the scientific research
strengths within both institutions,” McPhee said. “It gives our students and
faculty access to the opportunities they need to enhance their skills and
compete in a global marketplace that increasingly demands such expertise.”
Hugine said the agreement was “a wonderful opportunity for
our faculty and students” and an expansion of an already strong relationship
between the two universities.
Officials said the three-year agreement builds upon two
successful collaborations between the two universities: Both are partners in a
consortium for a federal Unmanned Aircraft Systems test site as well as a
three-year National Science Foundation-funded Partnership for Innovation in
Technology grant.
Chance M. Glenn Sr., AAMU professor and dean of the College
of Engineering, Technology and Physical Sciences, and Michael Allen, MTSU vice
provost for research and dean of graduate studies, are coordinating the effort.
“We are extremely excited about the endless possibilities of
this mutually beneficial partnership,” Glenn said. “We have had an enthusiastic
team comprised of faculty and staff from both universities working diligently to
make this become a reality. We eagerly anticipate the fruits of this
relationship.”
The agreement notes that both institutions will ensure that
students have access to expert staff and state-of-the-art equipment and
software; will mentor and train select students from the other institution in
their graduate or undergraduate research; and will provide speakers for
institute seminars.
“This MOU creates an opportunity for MTSU and AAMU to work
together on proposals for research grants in areas where we have complementary
strengths, such as unmanned aerial systems, robotics and precision
agriculture,” Allen said. “Groups of the MTSU faculty have already visited
with AAMU faculty and are actively working on NSF proposals.”
Founded in 1875 and established as a land-grant institution
in 1890, Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University is located just minutes
from downtown Huntsville, Ala. With an enrollment of roughly 6,000 students,
the university has five undergraduate schools (Agricultural & Environmental,
Arts & Sciences, Business, Education, and Engineering & Technology) and
Graduate Studies.
Bud Fischer, MTSU dean of the College of Basic and Applied
Sciences, said the MOU “creates an outstanding opportunity to bring together
faculty and student researchers from both institutions to work together on
collaborative, cutting-edge research projects in engineering and aerospace.”
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