6996色花堂, ECCC sign agreement to expand access to culinology degrees
Contact: Vanessa Beeson
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥Mississippi State and East Central Community College in Decatur are partnering to create a seamless transfer pathway for culinary arts students to pursue a bachelor鈥檚 degree in culinology at the university.
6996色花堂 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.
鈥淥ur 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 we鈥檙e 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,鈥 Keenum said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an honor to work with Dr. Gregory and his team at East Central to offer this new pathway to their students.鈥
Reed Family Endowed Professor Wes Schilling, who also directs the university鈥檚 new Food Science Innovation Hub, said the agreement allows community college graduates to continue their education at the university level.
鈥淭he culinology degree blends culinary arts and food science. By partnering with community colleges like ECCC, we鈥檙e increasing access and creating pathways for students to merge their culinary passion with food science鈥攑reparing them to work seamlessly with both chefs and food scientists,鈥 Schilling said.
He noted that the Food Science Innovation Hub plays a key role in providing students with hands-on industry experience.
鈥淪tudents will have opportunities to work directly with industry when companies bring projects to Mississippi State. They鈥檒l gain real-world experience troubleshooting, solving problems and determining which ingredients work best in different applications. 6996色花堂鈥檚 Food Science Innovation Hub gives them a place to practice the same skills they鈥檒l use in their careers,鈥 he said.
In addition to ECCC, 6996色花堂 holds similar agreements with Coahoma, Copiah-Lincoln, Hinds, Holmes, Mississippi Delta, Mississippi Gulf Coast and Northeast Mississippi community colleges, and Jones College. The university鈥檚 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 6996色花堂鈥檚 Department of Biochemistry, Nutrition and Health Promotion, visit .
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