SJC, Viterbo sign cooperation agreement

Students from St. John’s College who plan to study in the United States will now be able to do so with a lot less hassle. SJC and Viterbo University, located in La Crosse, Wisconsin, have signed an agreement to expedite the transfer of credits between the two institutions. Up to sixty-four SJC credits will be automatically accepted by Viterbo, significantly lessening the amount of time and money it would normally cost Belizean students to acquire a bachelors degree. SJC Academic Dean, Herman Byrd, says that this agreement is an acknowledgement of the quality education offered at SJC.

Herman Byrd, Academic Dean, SJC sixth Form.

“This is the first of a kind agreement for us. Essentially it’s an articulation agreement between us and Viterbo University that guarantees students after completing two years of study at St. Johns, that their course work will be automatically accepted towards a degree at Viterbo. This will meant that they will have two years to complete a Bachelors Degree. One of the things it does is it eliminates the time consuming work of having the schools to review the course work of the student. It has been done before by both institutions. Viterbo realizes that our courses are on a level similar to theirs in terms of quality and content and that makes the transfer all the more easier.”

Jack Havertape, Academic Vice-President, Viterbo

“Over the years from the 1970s, we have had students from Belize who have attended Viterbo. Those students have been of really superior quality and our faculty is excited about this agreement because of the preparation and the diligence of the students who have attended Viterbo in the past. And one of the things that Viterbo is also looking for is that we want to provide diversity and experience of having other students on our campus. And so this way we can provide a service to students from Belize and enrich our own campus and campus life for our students and our faculty.”

Havertape says that four ten thousand dollar tuition scholarships are being offered this year to Belizean students who wish to attend Viterbo. Among Belizean graduates of the Wisconsin College are two ministers of government: Jorge Espat and Dolores Balderamos Garcia.