The Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES) and Blinn College have signed a formal affiliation agreement that will strengthen their ability to address the state and nation’s shortage of students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
The partnership will create more opportunities for collaboration between the two to support their efforts.
“One of our main objectives is to strengthen and expand the pathway into STEM fields, to prepare students to compete and perform well in the marketplace,” said Dr. M. Katherine Banks, vice chancellor and dean of engineering and director of TEES. “We must also ensure that those entering the STEM fields more closely reflect the rich diversity of our population. This partnership formalizes a critical bridge between two-year and four-year STEM education.”
A 2012 report by the President’s Council on Science and Technology projected that one million more STEM degrees would be needed in the next decade. In Texas alone, the projected need for engineers in the workforce is 43,000 by 2020. To meet this need, universities and community colleges have been working together to bridge the gap and attract and retain students who are interested in STEM fields.
Blinn provides more transfer students to Texas A&M than any other community college in the state, and the two institutions have worked together closely to open the pathways for Blinn students to more easily transition into a four-year college environment. Blinn’s academic transfer rate regularly ranks among the highest in the nation and is approximately 20 percent higher than the state average.
“This partnership will allow us to continue to expand our efforts in supporting economic development in Texas by training students in science, technology, engineering and math,” said Sylvia McMullen, president of Blinn College Brazos County campuses.
About Blinn College
Founded in 1883, Blinn is a comprehensive community college committed to educational excellence and to individual and community enhancement. With an enrollment of 19,317 students, Blinn ranks among the nation’s leaders in transferring students to leading four-year universities and has received national recognition for its affordable educational excellence.
About TEES
For 100 years, the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES) has served the citizens of Texas through engineering and technology-oriented research and educational collaborations. TEES research has made significant impact on the health, safety and quality of life of Texas citizens and has contributed to the state’s economic growth and development.