The presidents of San Antonio College in Texas and Kettering University in Michigan, along with the vice chancellor of the Alamo Community Colleges, signed a fully articulated academic agreement on Monday, March 16, to develop and build a stronger pool of technical talent for the San Antonio region
San Antonio College President Robert E. Zeigler joined Kettering University President Stanley R. Liberty and Alamo Community Colleges Vice Chancellor for Economic & Workforce Development Federico Zaragoza in forming a unique academic partnership between the nationally ranked private engineering, science, math and business university in Michigan and the highly respected San Antonio College in Texas.
The alliance is intended to ensure a smooth transition for San Antonio students, who will begin their college studies and co-op experiences locally and then transfer into the country’s most advanced professional co-operative education program. Students will spend their first two years at San Antonio College and their final two and a half years in Kettering’s unique baccalaureate program in Flint.
"This partnership creates a collaborative model for a new concept in engineering education," said SAC President Zeigler. "The joint efforts of community colleges and four-year institutions will produce adaptable 'industry-ready' engineers for the unpredictable 21st century economy."
Said Kettering's Liberty: "An alliance between San Antonio College and Kettering University will provide a unique educational opportunity for local students and an opportunity for San Antonio businesses to establish an early connection with local talent. Kettering is very pleased to join with San Antonio College in this endeavor and looks forward to helping the region address its future technical work force needs."
At Kettering, students will spend three months in academic classrooms and then return to Texas for three months to work in professional co-op jobs at a variety of San Antonio businesses. Students are paid during their co-op terms. At the end of the three months, students will return to Michigan to begin the three-month academic cycle again. The two institutions will jointly share data on student achievement to assess program effectiveness.
Kettering's academic programs are: Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Business Administration, Computer Science, Applied Math, Applied Physics, Engineering Physics, Chemistry and Biochemistry. Students who meet Kettering’s admission requirements will be guaranteed admission into this program.
As the largest single-campus community college in Texas with more than 21,000 students, San Antonio College is approved and accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Designated a Hispanic-Serving Institution, SAC is also one of the Alamo Community Colleges. Moreover, the 2005 book "Enhancing the Community College Pathway to Engineering Careers" from the National Academy of Engineering and the National Research Council considers San Antonio College an exemplary institution and recognizes the college's engineering program. In fact, with direction from Coordinator Dan G. Dimitriu, Ph.D., PE, SAC's Engineering program has more than doubled its enrollments in the last eight years from 230 students in Fall 1999 to 489 students in Fall 2007.
Dimitriu also coordinates a summer bridge program for high school students interested in engineering, and partners with industry and other universities to help students continue their education and ultimately embark on engineering careers.
Kettering University, founded in 1919 as the General Motors Institute, has long been a leader in the preparation of technical and managerial leaders for industry and society and is a national leader in professional co-operative education. It is the only co-op school in the country that sends its entire student body into professional co-op jobs. Income from the co-op term is a significant resource to help pay college expenses. Kettering University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Its undergraduate engineering programs are accredited by ABET and its business programs are accredited by ACBSP.
More at www.kettering.edu or www.accd.edu/sac.
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