May 30, 2002
UM AND VALENCIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE ANNOUNCE AGREEMENT FOR ENGINEERING GRADS
CORAL GABLES, FL-- The University of Miami and Valencia Community College announced today an articulation agreement for transfer of Valencia Community College’s engineering graduates to the College of Engineering at the University of Miami.
The agreement was signed by UM President Donna E. Shalala and Valencia CC President Sanford C. Shugart at a special ceremony at the University of Miami.
“This agreement is a wonderful opportunity for the University of Miami and Valencia Community College to jointly provide students with a quality education through our nationally recognized engineering programs," said UM President Shalala.
“The future of higher education is all to be found in creative partnerships that serve our students and our communities while leveraging our resources. This agreement is a great example,” said Valencia President Shugart.
Students who successfully earn an Associate in Arts in pre-engineering from Valencia Community College and meet all articulation requirements will be admitted as juniors to the University of Miami, where they will be able to earn a bachelor's degree in engineering. The transfer will be seamless, with no loss of credits.
"We are very excited about our collaboration with the University of Miami,” said Dr. Gaby N. Hawat, Dean of Engineering and Technology at Valencia Community College. “This agreement provides a seamless transition for Valencia students to complete their engineering education."
Valencia Community College students must complete a minimum of 60 credit hours of specific courses in a specially designed pre-engineering program. They must earn a grade of C or higher in designated courses.
"This is a great example of the synergy among our educational institutions in Florida," said Dean of UM's College of Engineering M. Lewis Temares. "With the enormous potential for our communities becoming a technology gateway, it is crucial that we encourage and educate talented local students. By working together, the University of Miami and Valencia Community College will provide a great opportunity for worthy future leaders to learn what they need to know to make our state a mecca for technology and entrepreneurship."
The University of Miami College of Engineering will offer three, two-year tuition scholarships every year to exceptional transfer students from Valencia CC.
The articulation agreement will become effective immediately.
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The University of Miami is the largest private research university in the Southeast. Its College of Engineering is dedicated to educating engineers to deal with the major issues of society over the next generation -- enhancing competitiveness, advancing health care, coming into harmony with the environment and supporting a sophisticated infrastructure. UM's engineering students come from all parts of the U.S. and from many nations throughout the world, comprising one of the most diverse and cosmopolitan engineering student bodies in the country. Its departments include Biomedical Engineering, Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Industrial Engineering and Mechanical Engineering. For more information, go to: http://www.miami.edu/engineering
Valencia Community College is a multi-campus institution serving more than 50,000 students in Central Florida. Valencia offers Associate in Arts degrees, more than 50 Associate in Science and Associate in Applied Science degrees, and continuing education and workforce development in Orange and Osceola counties. To read more Valencia news, go to http://www.valenciacc.edu.
Contacts: Alexandra Ravinet
UM Media Relations
(305) 284-1601
Joan Andrek
Valencia CC
(407) 582-1017
