September 11, 2017
At a ceremony held at St. John’s University’s Queens, NY, campus on Friday, September 8, St. John’s signed an articulation agreement with Queensborough Community College that creates a seamless transfer process for Queensborough students seeking a bachelor’s degree at the University.
Conrado “Bobby” Gempesaw, Ph.D., President of St. John’s, welcomed four leaders and key architects of the agreement from Queensborough Community College, including Diane B. Call, Ed.D., President; Timothy G. Lynch, Ph.D., Vice President for Academic Affairs; Linda Reesman, D.A., Faculty Fellow for Academic Affairs; and Kathleen Villani, Department of Business.
The special event, held at The Peter J. Tobin College of Business, was also attended by the deans and senior leadership of St. John’s University who participated in creating the partnership. They included Robert A. Mangione, Ed.D., Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs; André McKenzie, Ed.D., Vice Provost, Academic Support Services and Faculty Development; and Jorge Rodriguez, Vice Provost and Chief Enrollment Officer.
“All of us in this room today are here not just because we want to sign an agreement. It’s more than that,” said Dr. Gempesaw. “We’re really transforming lives.” Dr. Gempesaw went on to note that the agreement was perfectly aligned with two of the University’s strategic priorities, adding, “One is to ensure the success of our students, and the other is to expand partnerships with our neighbors.”
Dr. Gempesaw also stressed that Queensborough has thousands of students who come through their doors every year, many of whom will be attracted to the unique Catholic and Vincentian education that St. John’s has proudly provided for more than 147 years.
“A partnership requires respect, trust, and commitment,” said Dr. Call. “That is something you can feel in this room, and it’s probably a taste of what our students will experience when they graduate from us and go on to St. John’s.”
Dr. Call pointed out what the two institutions have in common: the spirit of New York City, the diversity of Queens, and the commitment to first-generation students seeking a quality education. “I look forward to sending many students to St. John’s,” she said.
The articulation agreement was signed by both presidents, Dr. Mangione, and Dr. Lynch. The agreement between the two institutions provides curriculum “maps” that guide Queensborough students as they plan to enter St. John’s.
The maps outline a seamless pathway from a two-year curriculum into 21 different bachelor’s programs awarded through the Tobin College of Business, The School of Education, the College of Professional Studies, St. John’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.
In addition, St. John’s provides a $17,000 transfer scholarship to students who plan to study at the Queens campus and who meet specific academic requirements. On the Staten Island campus, the transfer scholarship dollar award is $15,000.
St. John’s has entered into similar mutually beneficial agreements with the Borough of Manhattan Community College, Kingsborough Community College, Nassau Community College, and Suffolk County Community College.
“This has been a collaborative effort in the making for more than a year,” said Nancy S. Kaplan, Ed.D., Associate Provost for Academic Support Services and External Academic Partnerships. “The work has been enjoyable, but the relationships and friendships forged have been even better.”
The articulation agreement took effect immediately after it was signed.