COSAM News Articles 2020 January Message from Dean Giordano – January 2020

Message from Dean Giordano – January 2020

Published: 01/07/2020

Auburn University is offering a new program, Auburn First, to support Alabama high school students interested in earning college credit through dual enrollment courses. These students can earn up to 24 credits for approved Auburn courses at a reduced tuition cost while receiving both high school and college credit.

This program was designed to promote the university’s access and affordability initiatives for Alabama students. Once accepted into the program, students complete approved Auburn First courses (offered online) and can access academic support resources provided by the university. These resources include library services, academic support services, academic advising, access to writing center services, and access to software, including Adobe Creative Cloud and Microsoft Office 365. Designed to create affordable pathways for Alabama students to begin their college experience early, the program also exposes students to potential academic majors. Those students who complete a minimum of 12 hours of designated coursework with a 3.0 GPA or higher receive automatic admission to the university.

We are excited that the College of Sciences and Mathematics (COSAM) is one of the first colleges at Auburn to partner with the Auburn First program. Our faculty have been engaged with the program since its inception to develop and offer high-quality math and science courses for high school students.

Moreover, the value of a COSAM degree was highlighted in a recent result from Pew Research, who reported that since 1990, a 79 percent increase has been seen in employment in STEM-based careers. The total number of jobs increased from nine million to more than 17 million jobs. This trend also shows a higher starting salary base and more flexibility for future advancement.

Pew Research further states that “STEM training in college is associated with higher earnings, whether working in a STEM occupation or not,” in their 7 facts about the STEM workforce report.

COSAM offers students the potential to earn a degree with a proven path leading them to a career in a growing field. A degree from COSAM will help them have higher earning potential and allow them to explore the world of research, opening even more doors.

Our college is excited to welcome Alabama high school students in Auburn First who are interested in taking COSAM courses and encourages them to pursue a rewarding career in a STEM-related field.