Feb. 25, 2011
For Immediate Release
By Christina Miller, office assistant
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky.— Campbellsville University recently signed an agreement for academic exchange and cooperation with St. John's Junior College, located in Belize City, Belize.
“St. John's College is considered to be the best junior college in the country,” Dr. Frank Cheatham, vice president for academic affairs at Campbellsville University, said. Cheatham travelled to Belize to sign the agreement with St. John's President Frank Garbutt.
Few individuals who receive associate degrees in Belize have the opportunity to complete their bachelor degrees within the country, he said. Because of this, many students in Belize come to the United States to complete their bachelor's degrees.
The agreement states: “The two institutions, based on the principles of respect for each other's independence and of mutual benefit, will engage in the following activities: exchange of students and academic staff, joint research activities, and exchange and joint development of academic materials.”
“It is our hope that some of the better students from St. John's will find CU attractive,” Cheatham said. “This would benefit both CU and St. John's by giving their students additional opportunities.”
Dr. DeWayne Frazier, associate vice president for academic affairs at Campbellsville University, also went to Belize for the signing. He said students from St. John's Junior College would come to Campbellsville University and complete their bachelor's degree.
“There is only one true university in Belize, University of Belize, and one small for profit group, Galen. They have little options to complete a bachelor's degree in the country.”
Frazier said, “CU will benefit from the transfer of extremely bright Belizean students.”
Dianne Lindo, provost and chief academic officer at St. John's College, said, “St. John's College and Campbellsville University share many commonalities in our missions: we both cherish our liberal arts grounding and our focus on personal growth, academic excellence, lifelong learning and service; and we both strive to expose our students to the wider world and its varied opportunities for service and leadership. St. John's College welcomes the agreement for academic exchange and cooperation with Campbellsville University as a way to expand opportunities for students of our institutions to pursue their educational and life goals.”
Frazier said, “Belize is a great location for faculty exchange programs and study abroad. Belize offers a great location to study Africa Diaspora, Caribbean cultural and environmental studies and British Colonial history.”
Dr. Keith Spears, vice president for regional and professional education at Campbellsville University, also went to Belize for the signing.
Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with over 3,000 students offering 63 undergraduate programs, 17 master's degrees and five postgraduate areas. The website for complete information is campbellsville.edu.