UnitedHealth Group and the Atlanta University Center Consortium (AUCC) are partnering on a new initiative to prepare students to meet the growing demand in the marketplace for data analytics experts.
The five-year, $8.25 million investment by UnitedHealth Group is part of a collaboration with AUCC and its membership: Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, Morehouse School of Medicine and Spelman College.
The investment will fund the launch of the AUCC Data Science Initiative, which will offer technical classes for students who want to specialize in data science or learn data analysis to provide them with an edge when they look for jobs in their field of study, according to officials from both organizations who made the announcement last week.
The partnership comes as the number of job openings in the U.S. for data professionals is projected to reach more than 2.7 million by 2020, according to a national study.
AUCC is the oldest and largest consortium of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), and its collective community of 9,000 students will aim to help the new data science initiative reach a broad spectrum of scholars.
In addition to infusing data science across every academic discipline, the initiative will help students learn how to use advanced data analytics techniques for academic research, particularly studies on disparities in minority communities. Certificate programs focused on data analytics and data science will also be developed, officials noted.
“Technology in general, and data science in particular, are critical to better meeting the needs of our customers,” said David S. Wichmann, CEO of UnitedHealth Group. “We are grateful for the opportunity to support this initiative because it aligns with our desire to ensure our workforce for the future is diverse and possesses the skills needed to propel our company for continued success.”
Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice, president and dean of the Morehouse School of Medicine, added, “The Data Science Initiative has the potential to make the Atlanta University Center Consortium a national resource for experts in data analytics. This program will not only produce talented data scientists who will be leaders in their fields, but increasing the number of degree offerings with data science competencies at HBCUs will assist in diversifying a career field that is currently made up of less than 7 percent of under-represented minorities.”
