About DDEP History
Dual Degree Engineering Program (DDEP)
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The Atlanta University Center Consortium Dual Degree Engineering Program has excelled for over 50 years, created to significantly build the number of minority engineers globally aware, socially engaged, and well equipped for scientific, technological, engineering, and mathematical careers. Since its conception, classes of innovators and disrupters have entered the job force forging a path to greatness.
According to the Pew Research Center, Black and Hispanic workers remain underrepresented in the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) workforce compared with their share of all workers. The Atlanta University Center Dual Degree Engineering Program seeks to change the narrative, creating a pathway for students to excel in this field with career pathways to engage and educate.
In collaboration with corporations, engineering schools, and other partners who meet the need & interests of our students, the Consortium-wide program work, complements those at its member institutions: Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College and Spelman College increasing student success and engagement in their chosen fields.
Dual Degree Engineering Program History
In 1969, the historically Black colleges forming the AUC entered an agreement with Georgia Institute of Technology Dual Degree in Engineering. At the start of the partnership with GA Tech, Blacks represented less than 1 percent of engineers in the American workforce. This unique partnership was formed to build academic centers of excellence for Black students to increase the number of minorities in science and technology.
In the same year, the AUC DDEP received its first major grant of $265,000 from the Olin Mathieson Charitable Trust. These funds initiated the Georgia Institute of Technology/AUCC partnership for developing Black engineers. In addition to Georgia Institute of Technology, students now have the choice of attending some of the most prestigious engineering institutions in the country: Auburn University, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Missouri University of Science & Technology, North Carolina A&T State University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Rochester Institute of Technology, University of Michigan, and University of Notre Dame.
The liberal arts tradition within the AUC Consortium plays an important role in the education of engineering students with the goal to produce scholars who are technically proficient in math, science, and pre-engineering courses. The unique discipline equips them with a strong background in humanities, social sciences, communication skills, and presentation skills. Since the inception of the program, the Atlanta University Center Consortium Council of Presidents has shown their commitment by drafting and signing a formal agreement to oversee and support the DDEP. To date, more than 3,000 students have graduated through the AUCC DDEP.
In order to ensure that our students are well-equipped to meet this demand, the AUC Consortium DDEP has partnered with nine top-ranking engineering institutions:
- Auburn University
- Georgia Institute of Technology
- Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis
- Missouri University of Science & Technology
- North Carolina A&T State University
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
- Rochester Institute of Technology
- University of Michigan – Ann Arbor
- University of Notre Dame
