Developing an SSME Initiative for Instruction and Research at Morgan State University

Service science or service science, management and engineering (SSME) is a growing multi-disciplinary research and academic effort that integrates aspects of established fields like computer science, operations research, engineering, management sciences, business strategy, social and cognitive sciences, and legal sciences. More than 20 major research institutions in the US have adopted SSME as a discipline or program for educating students, but no Historically Black College or University (HBCU) has yet to fully develop and implement this new discipline. This paper will describe an initiative at a HBCU to promote the emerging discipline of Service Science, Management and Engineering (SSME) for instruction in the classroom, and a proposed research effort targeted in healthcare delivery systems. This initiative utilizes collaborative learning tools, case studies and research projects to reinforce SSME concepts. The HBCU is also taking the lead in creating an alliance of other HBCUs to promote the discipline of SSME.