The University of South Alabama today announced a new program benefiting students in the USA Mitchell College of Business. The program - “Partners for Academic Excellence” – kicked off with BellSouth donating $10,000 for scholarship support to outstanding Mitchell College of Business students enrolled in the e-commerce degree program.

The scholarship money will be awarded beginning in the 2001 fall semester. University President Gordon Moulton said the Partners for Academic Excellence program illustrated USA’s commitment with the business community.

“The Partners for Academic Excellence program testifies to our strong and growing relationship with the business community,” said Moulton. “Together we are dedicated to developing tomorrow’s business leaders.”

Dr. Carl Moore, dean of the USA Mitchell College of Business, underscored the commitment to maintaining a quality business college. “This program moves us to an even higher level of quality, and we are extremely proud to have BellSouth as a charter member of Partners for Academic Excellence.”

Bob Chappelle, regional director in southwest Alabama for BellSouth, said “BellSouth has long-standing commitments to education and the University of South Alabama. Today we are carrying our partnership to a new level.”

Partners for Academic Excellence offers three opportunities for individuals and organizations to support the USA Mitchell College of Business: Scholarships for outstanding students, Internships with leading businesses, and Instructional Resources/Technology Development for state-of-the-art computer and technology support.

Key elements of the program are:
• Recruitment and retention of quality students
• Continually update the curriculum to reflect current business practice
• Providing and maintaining quality instructional resources and facilities
• Increased opportunities for meaningful student internships with area businesses
• Increased placement of USA’s top graduates in area businesses
• Recruitment of faculty from nationally recognized graduate programs, and
• Support for continuing professional development for all faculty and staff

For more information, contact the USA Mitchell College of Business at (334) 460-6902.