CDEP was founded on July 1, 1983 by Dr. Isaac J. Crumbly at the Fort Valley State University with start-up funds from the U.S. Department of Energy. It is an innovative cooperative program between FVSU, the private and government sectors of the nation’s energy industry, and other partnering institutions. Although CDEP’s initial focus was targeted for the energy industry, the program has expanded to include other sectors of the nation’s workforce.

CDEP focuses on the recruitment and placement of academically talented minorities and females into professional level careers in the energy industry.

This objective is accomplished through the following methods:

• Dual-degree programs in engineering, geosciences and health physics
• Scholarships
• Internships
• Industry & Government participation
• Career/Job Opportunities
• Pre-College Mathematics, Science, & Engineering Academy (M-SEA)

The FVSU-CDEP program has established 3+2 dual-degree programs with Georgia Tech (GT), the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), Penn State University (PSU), the University of Texas-Austin (UT-Austin), the University of Texas Pan American (UTPA), and the University of Arkansas (UARK). The dual-degree programs operate by students enrolling for three years at FVSU and majoring in mathematics, chemistry or biology and then transferring to a partnering institution to continue their second degree option. After successful completion of both programs, students will receive two Bachelor of Science degrees: one degree from FVSU and the second degree from a collaborating university.

Via CDEP, FVSU offers dual degree programs in engineering in collaboration with GT, UTPA, and UARK, and both engineering and health physics with UNLV. A dual degree in geosciences (geology or geophysics) or petroleum engineering is offered at PSU and UT-Austin. Additionally, the PSU geosciences program gives students the option of pursuing a 3+3 program that results in the graduate receiving a B. S. degree from FVSU and a M.S. degree from PSU.

Scholarship Requirements (Competitive)

• 3.5 GPA or above
• Official high school transcript (!st semester grades from 12th grade must be included on transcript)
• Two letters of recommendation
• Combined math and critical reading SAT score of 1100 (minimum 550 math) or an equivalent composite score of 26 on the ACT
• Complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) –www.fafsa.ed.gov
  Note: FVSU’s Federal School Code, 001566, should be listed in section 8
• Complete the Fort Valley State University Application for Admission – www.fvsu.edu
• Complete the HOPE Application (Georgia students only)

In addition to completing the FAFSA, applicants must apply and be accepted into FVSU to be considered for a CDEP scholarship.

Send completed CDEP Scholarship Application, official transcript, ACT or SAT scores, and two (2) letters of recommendation to:

Cooperative Development Energy Program
Fort Valley State University
1005 State University Drive
Fort Valley, GA 31030-4313

For more information about CDEP, please call: (478) 825-6243 or Fax: (478) 825-6618

Fort Valley State University and Georgia Institute of Technology (GT)

• B.S. Degree in Mathematics or Chemistry (FVSU) /
• B.S. Degree in Engineering (GT)

Fort Valley State University and University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV)

• B.S. Degree in Mathematics (FVSU) /
• B.S. Degree in Engineering (UNLV)
• B.S. Degree in Biology, Chemistry, or Mathematics (FVSU) /
• B.S. Degree in Health Physics (UNLV)

Fort Valley State University and University of Texas – Austin (UT – Austin)

• B.S. Degree in Mathematics or Chemistry (FVSU) /
• B.S. Degree in Geology (UTEXAS)
• B.S. Degree in Mathematics or Chemistry (FVSU) /
• B.S. Degree in Geophysics (UTEXAS)
• B.S. Degree in Mathematics or Chemistry (FVSU) /
• B.S. Degree in Petroleum Engineering (UTEXAS)
• B.S. Degree in Mathematics or Chemistry (FVSU) /
• B.S. Degree in Hydrogeology/Environmental Geology (UTEXAS)

Fort Valley State University and Pennsylvania State University (PSU)

• B.S. Degree in Mathematics or Chemistry (FVSU) /
• B.S. Degree in Geosciences (PSU)
• B.S. Degree in Mathematics or Chemistry (FVSU) /
• B.S. Degree in Petroleum Engineering (PSU)

Fort Valley State University and University of Texas – Pan American (UTPA)

• B.S. Degree in Mathematics or Chemistry (FVSU) /
• B.S. Degree in Engineering (UTPA)

Fort Valley State University and University of Arkansas (UARK)

• B.S. Degree in Mathematics or Chemistry (FVSU) /
• B.S. Degree in Geology (UARK)
• B.S. Degree in Mathematics or Chemistry (FVSU) /
• B.S. Degree in Engineering (UARK)

CDEP implemented the M-SEA component of the program in 1993. M-SEA is an early intervention program that targets minority and female students who have just been promoted to the ninth grade. M-SEA students are introduced to the fields of energy, mathematics, earth science, biology, engineering, and computer science. Students who remain in the CDEP pipeline until their senior year in high school increase their chances of receiving full scholarships for college in one of CDEP’s 3+2 dual degree programs: mathematics/engineering, mathematics/geology, mathematics/geophysics, chemistry/geology, biology/health physics, chemistry/health physics, and mathematics/health physics.

To be eligible for M-SEA, students must meet the following criteria: (1) be recommended by a school counselor, principal, math or science teacher; (2) have an overall grade point average of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale; (3) have a solid “B” or above average in math and science subjects; and (4) have satisfactory grades in conduct.

M-SEA Criteria

CDEP has formed alliances with many energy companies and governmental agencies. An alliance with CDEP occurs when an energy corporation or governmental agency participates in CDEP’s internship program or provides financial support or a combination of both.

The following are just a few of the alliances CDEP has formed with major energy corporations and governmental agencies:

• AMCO Production Company
• Atlanta Gas Light Company
• ARCO Oil and Gas Corporation
• Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratory
• Bonneville Power Administration
• BP Corporation
• Bureau of Reclamation
• Chevron Company
• Conoco Inc.
• Exxon Mobil Corporation
• Georgia Power Company
• Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
• Minerals Management Service
• Nevada Power Company
• Oak Ridge National Laboratory
• Oglethorpe Power Corporation
• National Science Foundation
• Phillips Petroleum Company
• Schlumbeger
• Shell Oil Company
• The Southern Company
• Texaco
• U. S. Department of Energy
• U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
• U. S. Geological Survey

All students who are enrolled in one of CDEP’s engineering, geology, geophysics, or health physics dual degree programs are eligible to participate in summer internships with sponsoring companies and governmental agencies. The internships provide CDEP students with valuable hands-on work experience that is beneficial to the students when they seek employment following graduation. Although the salaries may vary with each internship, some students are paid as much as $3,500 or more per month. Some of the factors affecting internship salaries are student classification, major and the type of industry or governmental agency that is providing the internship.

As a result of their college internship experiences, CDEP graduates are highly marketable for full-time employment. CDEP graduates secure jobs immediately after graduation within corporate or governmental settings. Their internship experiences are valuable in helping them to negotiate above average salaries. CDEP graduates are employed with prestigious energy-related and non-energy related companies.

The following is a partial list of employers of CDEP graduates:.

• Anadarko Petroleum Company
• Bechtel-SAIC Company
• BP American Inc.
• Delphi Automotive
• EG & G, Inc.
• Exelon Energy Company
• Exxon Mobil
• Ford Motor Company
• General Motors
• Georgia Power Company
• INTEL, Inc.
• Kerr McGee Corporation
• Nevada Power Company
• Nortel Networks
• Proctor and Gamble
• Raytheon Missile Systems
• Shell Oil Company
• SPRINT PCS
• The Southern Company
• U.S. Department of Energy
• U.S. Geological Survey

Students who participate in the mathematics/engineering dual-degree program spend three years at FVSU studying mathematics and then transfer to GT, UNLV, UTPA, or UARK to complete the second degree in engineering.

Students interested in becoming a Geoscientist study mathematics or chemistry at FVSU for three years and continue for two years at PSU, UT-Austin, or UARK to pursue a degree in geosciences. Also, the PSU geosciences program gives students the option of pursuing a 3+3 program that results in the graduate receiving a B. S. degree from FVSU and a M.S. degree from PSU.

To complete a degree in Petroleum Engineering, students must major in mathematics at FVSU and then transfer to PSU or UT-Austin.

Students graduate with a B.S. degree in biology, chemistry or mathematics from FVSU and a second degree in health physics from UNLV.

To be considered for a competitive-based CDEP scholarship, students must complete a college-preparatory high school curriculum; have a combined math and critical thinking SAT score of 1100 (minimum 550 math) or an equivalent composite score of 26 on the ACT or above and a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or above.

These scholarships cover tuition, fees, room and board, and a supplemental book stipend. For Georgia students only, scholarships are coordinated with the HOPE Scholarship in that the tuition is paid by HOPE. Non-Georgia students’ tuition is paid directly by CDEP.

The scholarships cover the costs of matriculation at Fort Valley State University, Georgia Tech, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Penn State University, the University of Texas-Austin, the University of Texas Pan American, and the University of Arkansas.

• CDEP Scholarship Application