Published April 4, 2024
CAPTION: Dr. David W. Pittman, Director of the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development
Center (left) and Dr. Ronald Berry, President of ULM (right), signed an Education Partnership Agreement on March 25, 2024, at the ERDC facility in Vicksburg, Miss.
MONROE, LA – The University of Louisiana Monroe signed an Education Partnership Agreement (EPA)
with The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) on Monday, March
25, 2024, in Vicksburg, Miss. The EPA provides a framework for pursuing cooperative
educational collaborations between ULM and the ERDC, including the sharing of laboratory
equipment and cooperative research programs.
“This relationship will open opportunities for faculty, staff, and students at ULM
to put into practice what we teach. To serve others alongside ERDC is a great honor
and we look forward to the new horizons that will be realized from our collaboration,”
said Dr. Mark Arant, ULM Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.
“Our ERDC team is excited to highlight this new Educational Partnership Agreement
with the University of Louisiana Monroe,” said Robert D. Moser, Ph.D., Senior Scientific
Technical Manager for the ERDC. “It’s been a pleasure to get to know the ULM team
and see their commitment to academics, workforce development, and improving our local
communities here in the mid-south. From environmental toxicology to meteorology, hydrology,
construction, and computer science, there are many technical fields that I hope we
can further strengthen our collaborations on,” continued Moser.
According to the text of the agreement, “The supportive relationship between ULM and
ERDC is established in recognition of the importance of science and technology education
to the future political and economic well-being of the nation as well as the importance
of ULM to the business, industrial, and government institutions in this region.”
The purpose of the partnership is to encourage and enhance study in the disciplines
of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Current programs at ULM
that may participate in this partnership include Unmanned Aircraft Systems Management,
Strategic Communications, Public Administration, Educational Leadership, Master of
Business Administration, Atmospheric Science, Toxicology, Computer Science, and more.
Examples of ways this partnership will be executed include ERDC making laboratory
personnel available to teach science courses or to assist in the development of courses
and materials for ULM, including ULM faculty and students in laboratory and research
projects, and providing academic and career advice and assistance to students of ULM.
The program will also be marked by the mutual sharing of resources and information.
The Educational Partnership Agreement will remain in effect for five years.
