Under a new arrangement, graduates of H. Lavity Stoutt Community College will be guaranteed admission to Johnson & Wales University in the United States, according to HLSCC.
They will also be eligible for more scholarships.
The deal is made possible under agreements JWU recently signed with HLSCC and the Virgin Islands Ministry of Education.
HLSCC and JWU have been in negotiations since 2018 to find ways to collaborate and assist VI students who wish to attend the university, which has campuses in Providence, Miami, Charlotte and Denver, according to HLSCC.
The agreement between JWU and HLSCC launches the “Guaranteed Admission Programme,” which “creates a seamless admission process for transfer students” intending to complete a bachelor’s degree at JWU, according to HLSCC.
Under GAP, HLSCC graduates can transfer directly into certain programmes with junior status: business studies; liberal studies; and culinary arts.
Also, HLSCC graduates transferring to JWU under GAP with a grade point average of 2.5 or higher will be eligible for up to $7,500 in scholarships, HLSCC stated.
Acting HLSCC President Dr. Richard Georges said the initiative will benefit students and raise the college’s profile.
“Most importantly, we are trying to create more robust partnerships with the institutions we hold agreements with,” he said. “They visit our campus, they understand the position of the college in particular and the BVI in general.”
Scholarships
The second agreement, between the ministry and JWU, outlines ways the two entities can fund further education for HLSCC graduates who excel academically.
According to Mehdi Moutahir, JWU senior director of international partnerships, the school is prepared to use its scholarship programme to match funding to HLSCC students who have received VI government scholarships.
“The aspiration is to provide a pathway for HLSCC students to complete their bachelor’s degree in a specific discipline as well as their master’s degree in a two-plus-two-plus-one degree,” he said.
Mr. Moutahir added that the signatories plan for full tuition to be covered for three years, leaving successful HLSCC applicants responsible only for room and board.