MSU, ECCC sign agreement to expand access to culinology degrees
Contact: Vanessa Beeson
STARKVILLE, Miss.āMississippi State and East Central Community College in Decatur are partnering to create a seamless transfer pathway for culinary arts students to pursue a bachelorās degree in culinology at the university.
Ļć½¶Ö±²„President Mark E. Keenum and ECCC President Brent Gregory signed a memorandum of understanding today [Aug. 18], giving transfer students the opportunity to earn this degree in a field with 100% job placement.
āOur university is widely recognized for the innovative degree programs we provide and the collaborative culture we have. This agreement is the perfect example of how weāre working with our partners to give students access to a high-quality academic experience with our world-class faculty and earn a degree that leads to successful and rewarding career opportunities,ā Keenum said. āItās an honor to work with Dr. Gregory and his team at East Central to offer this new pathway to their students.ā
Reed Family Endowed Professor Wes Schilling, who also directs the universityās new Food Science Innovation Hub, said the agreement allows community college graduates to continue their education at the university level.
āThe culinology degree blends culinary arts and food science. By partnering with community colleges like ECCC, weāre increasing access and creating pathways for students to merge their culinary passion with food scienceāpreparing them to work seamlessly with both chefs and food scientists,ā Schilling said.
He noted that the Food Science Innovation Hub plays a key role in providing students with hands-on industry experience.
āStudents will have opportunities to work directly with industry when companies bring projects to Mississippi State. Theyāll gain real-world experience troubleshooting, solving problems and determining which ingredients work best in different applications. MSUās Food Science Innovation Hub gives them a place to practice the same skills theyāll use in their careers,ā he said.
In addition to ECCC, Ļć½¶Ö±²„holds similar agreements with Coahoma, Copiah-Lincoln, Hinds, Holmes, Mississippi Delta, Mississippi Gulf Coast and Northeast Mississippi community colleges, and Jones College. The universityās traditional four-year culinology degree is offered in partnership with the Mississippi University for Women.
For more on the culinology major within the food science program in MSUās Department of Biochemistry, Nutrition and Health Promotion, visit .
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