Tennessee State University and Middle Tennessee State University have entered into an agreement to develop strategic areas of research in data sciences. A joint institute will be created to ensure the implementation of the agreement.
A Memorandum of Understanding signed July 11 by TSU President Dr. Glenda Glover and MTSU President Dr. Sidney McPhee said the two TBR institutions would engage in collaborative research, workforce training and education, and seek joint funding opportunities to support the partnership.
“This Memorandum of Understanding between our two universities provides us an excellent opportunity to further strengthens our research capabilities,” said Dr. Glover. “The combined and complementary strengths of our respective institutions could lead to transformative excellence in education, research and scholarship, in ways that would benefit our entire University, the region, and beyond.”
Under the proposed Joint Institute for Data Sciences, TSU and MTSU will “actively” seek to participate in and enhance faculty and student research training programs, as well as provide access for each institution’s students to education and training programs that are available at one institution but not at the other. The emphasis would be in the area of engineering, the MOU stated.
The three-year agreement also stated each institution will ensure that students from the other institution have access to expert staff and state-of-the-art equipment and software; mentor and train select students from the other institution in appropriate aspect of their graduate or undergraduate research in data sciences; and provide speakers for JIDS seminars.
According to the agreement, TSU and MTSU believe that this joint effort will help the two universities accomplish training, scientific and engineering achievements beyond their individual reach.
At TSU, the dean of the College of Engineering, Dr. S. Keith Hargrove, will be the primary contact for implementation of the MOU, while MTSU’s Vice Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies Dr. Michael Allen will represent his school’s interest.
“This MOU provides both institutions to combined their strengths in curricula and research in data analytics, sciences, and cyber-security, to prepare graduates for the growing workforce demand of systems thinkers and decision makers,” Dr. Hargrove said. “These two premiere academic institutions recognize the need and value of producing these graduates…and advocate the charge promoted by Gov. Bill Haslam and the industries of the state of Tennessee.”
