DSC signs MOU with University of Maryland

dr peters
Dr. Peters (right) Dominica’s OAS Ambassador Hubert Charles (left) and Provost of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Dr Alton Thompson

The Dominica State College (DSC) and the University of Maryland have agreed to a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will result in student and faculty exchanges; research partnerships and the facilitation for the exchange of scholarly information between the two institutions.

“These are just a few of the many benefits that will derive from this historic agreement between our institutions,” stated Dr. Donald Peters, President of the Dominica State College.

The University of Maryland Eastern Shore is a university within the Maryland Public Higher Education System and it is also a Land Grant Institution which means that is also funded by the US Federal Government.

The university is ideally suited to help the DSC and indeed the country of Dominica, by helping provide the kind of academic programs that will prepare Dominica students as professional in the country’s two major industries, Agriculture and Tourism.

UMES main programs to which DSC students will be transferring includes Animal and Poultry Science, Plant and Soil science, Urban Forestry, Agribusiness and Agriculture Education.

In addition the Department of Human Ecology will train Dominica students in Family and Consumer Science, Child Development, Dietetics and Fashion Merchandising, and the Division of Technology will offer degrees in Construction Management Technology, Electrical Engineering Technology, Mechanical Engineering Technology while the Department of Hotel and Restaurant Management, will prepare students for Bachelors Degree in Hotel Management, Restaurant Management, Culinary Arts and Travel and Tourism.

Dominica-born Gabriel Christian is a member of the Board of Visitors of that University and was instrumental in working with Dr. Peters and the UMES administration to facilitate this agreement. Dominica’s Ambassador to the OAS, H.E. Hubert Charles who is stationed in Washington DC also accompanied Dr. Peters to the University to witness the signing of the MOU.

The President of DSC, Dr. Peters expressed his appreciation of DSC’s ability to continue to partner with international universities in seeking opportunities for Dominican students to further their education in areas not available in Dominica. “The University of Maryland at Eastern Shore is a historically strong university in the areas of Agriculture, Hospitality and Technology, it is accredited by the Middle States Association of College and Schools and I feel fortunate and pleased to have the DSC associated with such a strong and distinctive institution.”

While in Maryland, Dr. Peters had meetings with Dr. Alton Thompson the Provost of the University together with other Vice Presidents and Division Heads. It is expected that in the future President of UMES Dr. Juliette Bell will visit the DSC to meet with the Board of Governors, Faculty, student and staff.

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22 Comments

  1. May 25, 2016

    It pleases me when true patriots like Mr. Christian work so hard towards the development of our Country.

  2. natural dominican
    May 25, 2016

    A great leap forward. Thanks Gabo.

  3. Nacinimod
    May 25, 2016

    UMES is an Historically Black and “rural college.” Apparently academics is not its strong suit as the four-year graduation rate is just 19% while the 6-year graduation rate is 37%. Dominican students deserve better and would benefit most by attending Univ. of Maryland at College Park instead. Just my two cents.

    • University of Maryland System Well Respected
      May 25, 2016

      Nachos it would be even better where our students got into Harvard or Oxford for free. What a country? We have an opportunity to partner with a state school and the response is that it is “rural” and “black.” Just to note that the black and rural folk from Dominica have ascended to great heights where given opportunity. This is an opportunity and so let us make the best of it and stop being ungrateful wretches who find fault with everything and yet contribute nothing to progress. Shame on Nachos and those of that type.

  4. Positive
    May 25, 2016

    Finally some positive news in Dominica, Great Job to all involved.

  5. Del R Castro
    May 25, 2016

    Please note that the regular naysayers and political lamentators such as “Francisco Dodds” are not among those with congratulatory comments.

  6. Pcsrnette
    May 24, 2016

    That’s a very good memorandum of understanding however the headline is misleading. The university of Maryland Eastern shore is a different institution than the university of Maryland.

    • Sprinter
      May 24, 2016

      It is the University of Maryland Eastern Shore not the University of Maryland College Park or the University of Maryland Baltimore County, etc. Do they all belong to the University of Maryland system, yes!!

    • University of Maryland System Well Respected
      May 24, 2016

      The MOU is with University of Maryland Eastern Shore, a state insitution which is a highly regarded member of the University of Maryland system. See here
      http://www.usmd.edu/institutions/. The University of Maryland at College Park is the most well known of the various schools within that system, but the students come under the same State Board of Governors for what is one of the best university systems in the world. The University of Maryland Eastern Shore has partnerships with major federal agencies such as NASA, USDA, NOAA, and EPA. It is the state school of reference for technology education and aerospace. It would be great where http://www.umes.edu can aid our competence of our human resource across the board and raise the standards of our Dominica State College and its graduates. This is very good news for Dominica at this time of grave challenges.

  7. nicole
    May 24, 2016

    Wonderful news!!!!!!

  8. May 24, 2016

    This is great news! Hopefully this agreement includes an articulation agreement so that DSC students who graduate with an Associate’s degree can have transfer credit toward a Bachelor’s degree at UMES.

    • Righteous
      May 26, 2016

      @Steve Foerster that would be great. I would also encourage any student who has the intention of pursuing a degree at the UMES after completion of a program at DSC, should look into their credit by exams program. UMES will accept CLEP https://clep.collegeboard.org/ and DSST http://getcollegecredit.com/ which run around $80.00 dollars each and students can gain credits towards their degree. DSC can also charge a minimal fee to administer and proctor those exams. https://www.umes.edu/Admissions/Pages/Transfer-Information/ From my understanding, DSC was already approached in becoming a testing center so that the students can gain credits to most institutions in the US through the College Level Examination Program (CLEP). Hope they follow through with becoming a testing center. Let’s sign more of these MOUs.

      Great Start!

      One Love Dominicans #OLD

      • Righteous
        May 26, 2016

        UMES NON-TRADITIONAL CREDIT POLICIES

        Credit for nationally-recognized credit-by-examination programs:
        Maximum award of 30 semester hours.
        Credit for all forms of non-traditional learning:
        Maximum award of 30 semester hours.
        Credit for non-traditional learning depends on major and program of study.
        Recognition of non-traditional learning:
        Credit
        Examinations: Awarded
        CLEP Examinations All
        DSST Examinations All
        Excelsior College Examinations (ECE) None
        College Board Advanced Placement Exams Some
        Prof. Certification Exams in ACE National Guide Some

      • May 27, 2016

        Great thinking, Righteous! Collectively, CLEP and DSST are one of the best kept secrets of American higher education. Students can save a great deal of money and time by taking advantage of them.

  9. Odin
    May 24, 2016

    DSC is doing an excellent job of expanding their horizons and those of its students, faculty and all Dominicans. Please continue all the newly established programs with US educational institutions, teachers in Ecuador and other international contacts.

  10. Pondera
    May 24, 2016

    Excellent initiative. These synergies are useful to maximize opportunities for students. Best wishes!!

  11. d-a born
    May 24, 2016

    Good stuff, that’s a good school system.

  12. MIA
    May 24, 2016

    Nice work!

  13. Nigel
    May 24, 2016

    Great job!!

  14. Michael Norris
    May 24, 2016

    Good one, Gabriel. Thanks for your continued efforts at contributing to Dominica’s development.

    • febrese
      May 25, 2016

      i wonder who are the people disliking this comment…

  15. Roseau River
    May 24, 2016

    Good news

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