Engineering Education Partners
March 26, 2014
UT Tyler Office of Marketing and Communications
UT Tyler, San Jacinto College Enter Partnership to Help Engineering Students Earn 4-Year Degree
March 26, 2014
Media Contact: Hannah Buchanan
Editor/Writer–Strategic Communications & Media Relations
Marketing and Communications
The University of Texas at Tyler
903.539.7196 (cell)
March 26, 2014
The University of Texas at Tyler and San Jacinto College have entered a partnership designed to offer pathways for students to earn baccalaureate degrees in selected fields of engineering, Dr. James Nelson, UT Tyler College of Engineering and Computer Science dean, announced.
With this partnership, the institutions will create a seamless transition for San Jacinto College students and graduates seeking bachelor of science degrees in civil, electrical and mechanical engineering. UT Tyler will provide upper division engineering course work at its Houston Engineering Center, located at Houston Community College’s Alief Campus. Transferring students must complete all lower division engineering, math and science course work with an overall grade point average of at least 2.5 at San Jacinto College, according to the agreement.
The partnering institutions will also collaborate to develop and offer engineering courses at both institutions to enhance student preparedness for completion of engineering degrees taught at the UT Tyler Houston Engineering Center.
“The partnership is a win-win for both institutions, and especially for students,” said Nelson. “A key advantage for students will be in cost savings. The cost for a student to earn an engineering baccalaureate degree by attending San Jacinto College and then transferring to the UT Tyler Houston Engineering Center will be approximately $20,000 (tuition and fees). That’s approximately 40 to 50 percent less than what a similar degree costs at many other universities in Texas.”
Students will also see a great return on investment with their degree.
“A student who earns an engineering degree through the San Jacinto College and UT Tyler partnership will find it generally pays off, because the starting annual salary of many entry-level engineers is around $60,000,” Nelson added. “That means the cost of the education is only about one-third of the starting salary of one year.”
According to Dr. Catherine O’Brien, San Jacinto College’s associate vice chancellor for learning, the agreement will open opportunities for students pursuing careers in high-demand and engineering fields.
“This partnership will provide seamless transfers for students interested in engineering career fields to a highly respected university that has a convenient local presence,” she said. “There is a critical need in our nation and in the local area for well trained engineers, and we are glad to launch such a win-win collaboration to help prepare graduates for these important and lucrative careers.”
For more information, contact Nelson, 903.566.7040 or jknelson@uttyler.edu.
Surrounded by monuments of history, industries and maritime enterprises of today, and the space age of tomorrow, San Jacinto College has been serving the citizens of East Harris County, Texas, for more than 50 years. The Achieving the Dream Leader College is committed to the goals and aspirations of a diverse population of 30,000 students in more than 200 degree and certificate options, including university transfer and career preparation. Students also benefit from the College’s job training programs, renowned for meeting the needs of growing industries in the region. San Jacinto College graduates contribute nearly $630 million each year to the Texas workforce.
One of the 15 campuses of the UT System, UT Tyler features excellence in teaching, research, artistic performance and community service. More than 80 undergraduate and graduate degrees are available at UT Tyler, which has an enrollment of more than 7,500 high-ability students. UT Tyler offers courses at its campuses in Tyler, Longview and Palestine as well as a location in Houston.