March 13, 2013
Reflecting its ongoing commitment to global learning, St. John’s
University unveiled renovations to the main courtyard of its Study
Abroad location in Paris, France, with a March 7 ribbon-cutting
attended by students, administrators, and French dignitaries.
Located in the colorful Sixth Arrondissement, the facility is
the site of two popular St. John’s Study Abroad programs. The
Paris Semester offers an academic and social immersion in
French art, language, and history. Through
Discover the World Europe, students earn course credit in three
European cities in a single term.
The upgrades enhance the courtyard’s appeal as a gathering place
for students. Additions include outdoor benches and tables,
upgraded paving, improved lighting, trellises, and planters. A new
wrought-iron gate at the courtyard’s entrance emphasizes easy
access to the rue de Sèvres and all that Paris has to offer.
“On behalf of Fr. Harrington and the Board of Trustees, St.
John’s is delighted to have made this further investment in the
quality of our Paris location,” said Martha Hirst, Executive Vice
President and Chief Operating Officer at St. John’s. “It is a
facility that will continue to benefit students and faculty, and
enhance our focus on providing a global education commensurate with
today’s international workplace, all within the Vincentian
framework of service to others.”
Speaking in French and English, Hirst addressed the crowd of
nearly 100 students joining St. John’s administrators and members
of the Vincentian Community at the noontime ceremony. Rev. Elie
DelPlace, C.M., Provincial of the Congregation of the Mission in
Paris, offered blessings and comments in French. The benediction
was delivered by Sister Bernadette Miller, DC, who guides Campus
Ministry activities at the facility. The Mayor of the Sixth
Arrondissement, Jean-Pierre Lecoq, presented brief remarks.
Photo Gallery
The renovations demonstrate St. John’s commitment to this
site—and its partnership with the city’s Vincentian Community,
noted Anthony Pacheco, Vice President of
Global Programs at St. John's. The University has a long-term
lease on the facility, which is part of the Vincentian’s “Maison
Mère,” or mother house. The first floor comprises a lobby with a
spiral staircase, a cafeteria, and University offices. The second
floor features classrooms, a computer lab, and a seminar room.
Residence facilities occupy the top four floors.
Throughout the year, the location serves students from St.
John’s and other four-year colleges who enroll in the University’s
Paris Semester and Discover the World programs. Students enjoy the
opportunity to learn about Europe in a capital of the arts. “It’s
exposed me to another culture that’s very different in many ways
from what we have in the United States,” said Joseph Tate ’14CPS.
“The Paris location is a wonderful place to study—a well-organized,
close-knit community.”
“It’s one thing to see sites like the Eiffel Tower in a
picture—and another thing to see it in person,” said Frances
Mathieu ’13C. “Studying abroad gave me the opportunity to
experience French culture, while learning a great deal about
history and art, too.”
St. John’s opened its Paris location in 2008 as the latest site
for its growing Study Abroad programs. Since 1995, the University
has maintained a campus in Rome, Italy, that serves students in the
Rome Semester and Discover the World Europe courses. The Rome
campus also offers an MBA in finance, international business, and
marketing management, as well as master’s degrees in government and
politics and international global development and social
justice.
The University also has three residential, New York City
campuses (in Queens, Staten Island, and Manhattan) as well as a
location in Oakdale, NY.
