Officials from West Virginia University and Wheeling Jesuit University today (Aug. 22) signed an agreement allowing students to spend three years at Wheeling Jesuit, two years in WVU s College of Engineering and Mineral Resources and graduate after five years with degrees from both institutions.

The agreement is similar to ones that the WVU engineering college has with other state institutions, including West Virginia Wesleyan College, Marshall University, Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College, Shepherd University, WVU at Parkersburg and all of the divisions of WVU .

We are excited about entering into this partnership with Wheeling Jesuit University,said E. Jane Martin , interim provost at WVU .It is part of our Universitys commitment to making a wide variety of educational programs accessible to the citizens of West Virginia and the surrounding region.

The demand for graduates proficient in engineering design and practice is increasing as we seek new forms of energy and redevelop aging infrastructure,said Wheeling Jesuit Academic Vice President Letha Zook, who came to Morgantown to sign the agreement.The solutions to the problems we will face in this challenge require a unique set of skills. This collaboration will enable students to combine the unique learning experience that distinguishes Wheeling Jesuit University with the exceptional technical learning in engineering and mineral sciences for which WVU is well known.

Our state and our society as a whole are in need of highly educated scientists and engineers to solve the problems that we face and to fill the high-tech jobs of the future,said Gene Cilento , dean of the WVU College of Engineering and Mineral Resources.By increasing educational options for students in programs like this, we enhance our ability to fulfill this vision.

Thethree-plus-twoprogram will clearly define requirements and provide guidance and sample schedules for students so they will know what to take each semester to complete the program in a timely manner. In essence, Cilento said, the agreement provides students with a seamless transition from one institution to another.

The agreement goes into effect immediately.