At a press conference on Wednesday, March 26, Troy University announced the implementation of a new College of Science and Engineering, a new Electrical Engineering program and the reorganization of some colleges inside the university. 

On March 1, the Troy University Board of Trustees voted to create the College of Science and Engineering, which will house Troy’s engineering programs alongside existing science disciplines and the new Electrical Engineering program in an effort to have an integrated approach to STEM education. The announcement of the new college was made in front of the new Center for Materials and Manufacturing Sciences.   

“There are benchmarks at Troy University and this will be a benchmark (for Troy University),” Troy University Chancellor Dr. Jack Hawkins Jr. said. “It was Saint Francis of Assisi who said, ‘We begin in life doing that which is necessary and then we move to that which is possible and then we begin to do the impossible.’ As I stand here with my back to the future of Troy University, I think all about the developments that have happened that have transformed Troy University and in turn has helped transform the state, the nation and the world because of the international students we bring and send back all over the world. This is a remarkable day.” 

Troy University Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Dr. Kerry Palmer said that the Center for Materials and Manufacturing Sciences, along with the new College fo Science and Engineering, is evidence of Troy’s commitment to developing STEM education.

“We have obviously invested a great deal into STEM education as is evidenced by this building over my shoulder, close to $30 million, which is the Center for Material and Manufacturing Sciences,” he continued. “This is purely a research facility and demonstrates Troy’s commitment to STEM – science, technology, engineering and mathematics – education in the coming years. 

“More importantly than just focusing on STEM for the purpose of elevating science, this university is working to position itself to meet workforce needs. It is our goal to prepare our students for jobs, many of which don’t even exist yet. That requires education to be more nimble than it’s ever been before. Higher education is not known for that. We tend to move at a glacial pace but you can’t move at a glacial pace in this day and time.”

Hawkins emphasized that while Troy’s focus on STEM will only continue to grow, it won’t do that in detriment to the university’s other departments and programs.

“Today is truly about focusing on the future,” he emphasized. “The number of jobs in STEM based programs double those in other areas. We won’t work forward into the future detrimentally to the humanities, the arts or education but we need to focus on more particularly in STEM areas.”

Also at the press conference, Troy University announced that the College of Education will now become the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences, which will house every discipline that Troy offers dedicated to the study of human behavior like education, criminology, psychology and counseling. 

The College fo Communication and Fine Arts will now be known as the College of Arts and Humanities, which will see the English department, journalism, music, theater and dance be combined with history and philosophy. 

All of these changes will be effective Aug. 1, 2025. Also, Palmer said that he is currently working with department heads to review core courses that students at Troy University take over the next year.

“What we want to emerge from that is a graduate profile; the type of student we want to see walk away from this university with a degree in hand,” he said. “Additionally, we will also be looking at what industry leaders tell us they need in their workforce; soft skills, communication and financial management. These are exciting times at Troy University.” 

Hawkins said that Troy’s changes – and additions – were simply about meeting needs.

“It’s all needs based, it’s not about institutional ego,” he continued. “It’s about doing what we need to do to meet the needs of the community.”

Hawkins quoted the late Alabama businessman Arthur George Gaston, who said “to be successful in life in business – or any other enterprise – all you need to do is to find the need and fill the need.” 

“As simple as that is, and it was Ben Franklin who said, ‘Brilliance is in simplicity,’ this is back to the future,” Hawkins said. “STEM will be a major part of this university and it’s not about feeding the institution, or expanding our brand, but it’s about responding to the needs of the community, to the needs that our students have to open doors to the future.”

Lockheed Martin Operations Manager Adam Carson, a 2007 Troy graduate, said that new STEM based programs like what Troy is introducing is the key to the future for education.

“The new Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and the College of Science and Engineering will be a new pipeline for continued economic growth in our great state,” Carson said. “Just this week, Gov. (Kay) Ivey announced investment of industry of over $7 billion in 2024 in our state. STEM programs like this will ensure these investments by companies like Lockheed Martin will pay dividends not only to them but more importantly to the great citizens of Alabama. 

“Providing additional access to STEM careers will continue to draw new investments into this area and to this state. This access will also help spark more young men and women, like that are sitting with us today, to invest in their own future and make us all stronger.”