Grambling State News

by T. Scott Boatright | Office of Communications

Baton Rouge, LA – May 2, 2022 – The international impact of Grambling State University (GSU) was strengthened during the April University of Louisiana System board meeting as approval was granted to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the University of Belize (UB).

The MOU sets up a path where UB graduates can work on and complete graduate degrees in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at Grambling State University.

Belize is a Caribbean country on the northeastern coast of Central America. It borders Mexico to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and Guatemala to the west and south.

Under the provisions of the MOU, University of Belize graduates will matriculate at GSU with a master’s degree in one of the areas of Education, using programs that have been approved for 100% online delivery.

Dr. Cheyrl Mansfield Ensley, interim department head and associate professor for GSU’s Department of Curriculum & Instruction and Educational Leadership called the MOU good for both Grambling State and the University of Belize.

“We are extremely excited to partner with the University of Belize,” Ensley said. “Through our online program, we will provide access and opportunity to individuals who may otherwise not have the chance to obtain a master’s degree. This is a win-win situation for both universities.”

The degree will be comprised of a minimum of 36 credit hours in coursework.

The objectives of the agreement between GSU and UB are to attract qualified students to GSU and UB; facilitate the enrollment of students from UB to GSU; provide specific advisement for students at UB who intend to pursue graduate studies at GSU; provide qualified students the opportunity to complete the Master’s level graduate degrees in two years; encourage academic and administrative coordination between institutions and the exchange of evaluative information on the outcomes of the programs with the goals of continual growth and improvement of both programs; provide opportunities for research and other collaborations between university faculties at UB and GSU.

The MOU states that GSU shall accept, for the entrance date of its choice, a cohort of students who have undergraduate cumulative grade point averages of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale, are licensed to teach in Belize, and meet admissions requirements for GSU by the deadline date for admission.

Students enrolled in the graduate programs who successfully complete all required coursework at GSU and maintain a grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale will be granted the master’s degree from GSU, provided that they have met all other Grambling State University graduation requirements.

To learn more about the program, contact Dr. Kathryn Newman at newman@gram.edu .