Photo Caption (l-r): UL Lafayette Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering Department Head Magdy Bayoumi, Ph.D.; DTSMA Principal Jeff Debetaz; UL Lafayette College of Engineering Associate Dean Burke Huner, Ph.D.; UL Lafayette College of Engineering Dean Ahmed Khattab, Ph.D.; Pugh Family Foundation Chair Nick Pugh; DTSMA Instructor Tod Hansen, M.S.
Beginning this fall, qualifying LPSS high school seniors attending David Thibodaux STEM Magnet Academy (DTSMA) will have the opportunity to earn college engineering credits as part of a pilot dual enrollment program in the College of Engineering.
“We have a number of hard-working, high-achieving engineering and technology students who are prime candidates for this unique opportunity, which will center on learning experiences on the UL Lafayette campus,” says DTSMA Principal Jeff Debetaz.
The first dual enrollment course offered will be an introduction to computer engineering (EECE 140), which will allow students to earn both high school and university credits upon completion of the lecture course and lab requirement.
“We are working to not only accelerate the educational process for these high-performing students, but also to build a bridge between their high school and university experiences,” explains UL Lafayette College of Engineering Dean Ahmed Khattab, Ph.D. “The College is planning to add more engineering courses for high school students for dual enrollment opportunities.”
“This partnership will showcase the best of both institutions,” notes UL Lafayette Electrical & Computer Engineering Department Head Magdy Bayoumi, Ph.D. “These students will be provided with opportunities to move closer toward a number of promising career paths through this program.”
“This course is carefully selected to introduce students to the fundamentals of digital design which is the foundation of designing smart systems that dominate our life. The course will challenge the imagination and curiosity of the students through hands-on projects that we are using in our daily life,” he adds.
Pugh Family Foundation Chair Nick Pugh, DTSMA Instructor Tod Hansen, and UL Lafayette College of Engineering Associate Dean Burke Huner, Ph.D., will also be part of the project team.