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News Release

Office of News and Information
Johns Hopkins University
901 South Bond Street, Suite 540
Baltimore, Maryland 21231
Phone: 443-287-9960
Fax: 443-287-9920

October 14, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JHU Media Contact: Phil Sneiderman
(443) 287-9960;
Tulane Media Contact: Kathryn Hobgood
(504) 865-5229


Johns Hopkins Joins with Tulane in
Post-Katrina Dual Degree Plan

Program Allows Tulane Undergrads to Study
Physics and Engineering on Two Campuses

The Johns Hopkins University has entered into a partnership that will enable Tulane University undergraduates to obtain engineering degrees in four study areas that were eliminated from Tulane's curriculum when that university restructured after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Vanderbilt University will also be a partner, offering engineering degrees in three of the four disciplines.

The program, effective this fall, will enable undergraduates enrolled in Tulane's School of Science and Engineering in New Orleans to earn dual degrees in physics and engineering. Participants will complete three years of study at Tulane, followed by two years at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore or Vanderbilt, located in Nashville, Tenn.

Upon completion, a successful student would receive a bachelor's degree in physics from Tulane and a bachelor's degree in civil, electrical, mechanical or environmental engineering from the partner institution. These four engineering degree programs were eliminated during Tulane's post-Katrina restructuring.

Johns Hopkins University's Whiting School of Engineering will offer the four degree programs to Tulane students who have completed their first three years as physics majors at the New Orleans campus. "After Katrina, the Whiting School took in some engineering students from Tulane," said Edward R. Scheinerman, vice dean for education in the Whiting School. "We think very highly of Tulane students and are excited about this partnership, as we know the Tulane students will be an asset to our academic community."

Vanderbilt will offer participating Tulane students degrees in three of the engineering disciplines. "We are delighted to partner with Tulane University's School of Science and Engineering in a dual degree undergraduate program," said Kenneth F. Galloway, dean of the Vanderbilt University School of Engineering. "We will welcome physics students from Tulane, after three years of study, to our ABET accredited programs in civil, mechanical and electrical engineering at Vanderbilt."

Tulane administrators say they are pleased that the new partnership will allow Tulane students to continue to earn degrees in these engineering disciplines. "This attractive combination of study on two different campuses will provide our undergraduates something that is otherwise unavailable at Tulane," said Nick Altiero, dean of the School of Science and Engineering at Tulane. "They will be Tulane graduates but will also be able to receive an engineering degree that we no longer offer."

Currently, Tulane offers undergraduate engineering degree programs in biomedical engineering, chemical engineering and engineering physics. In addition, a minor in engineering science is offered for non-engineering majors.

Under the new partnership, once a Tulane student declares his or her intention to participate in the dual degree program, faculty members from each of the universities will serve as joint advisors to assist students in preparing their academic programs. Students will graduate from their two respective universities in the same year.