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June 4, 2020By Raymond L. Delisle | Director of Communications
The partnership is also a commitment to affordable college preparation and college-level education, since St. Paul students will have the opportunity to earn a college degree one semester early, thereby maximizing the investment a family makes in a Catholic education.
“Assumption’s commitment to expanding access to authentic, Catholic education inspires us to look beyond Salisbury Street to the campus of St. Paul Diocesan Junior/Senior High School to provide unique opportunities to students who seek truth and understanding,” said Francesco C. Cesareo, Ph.D., president of Assumption. “Through this partnership, St. Paul students and faculty will have access to a number of programs to enhance classroom instruction and co-curricular programs that will contribute to a vibrant campus life experience for students. One such program would welcome St. Paul students to Assumption’s campus in Rome, Italy as they explore life’s fundamental questions and begin to discover one’s purpose in the world.”
“This is exciting news for our currently enrolled students and those families considering St. Paul in the fall,” said Bishop McManus. “I am grateful to President Cesareo and all those who collaborated with him from the Assumption community for helping us to form our students for true success in a life that is rooted in a strong sense of personal mission and exceptional thinkers and communicators.”
The new partnership with Assumption will benefit the entire St. Paul student body as well as faculty.
“For individual students with a strong commitment to academics, it is a chance to experience a continuum of education from junior high school through university level, and even graduate level studies, as Assumption has a number of graduate programs as well as many articulation agreements with respected institutions across the country, such as the University of Notre Dame and Washington University of St. Louis,” said David Perda, Ph.D., superintendent of Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Worcester. The agreement also allows for St. Paul students to participate in Assumption’s Great Books summer program, which offers the experience of living on a college campus.
“Dual enrollment opportunities, internships, opportunities to participate in summer programs, and the consideration for merit scholarships to Assumption will offer St. Paul students a chance to engage beyond college preparatory education to college exploratory,” said Michael Clark, Head of School at St. Paul. “Regardless of which college or university a St. Paul student attends, their choice will be the result of a well-planned path and exceptional education that can begin as early as junior high.”
“We look forward to not only launching our partnership in the fall semester but, as importantly, adapting and responding as the student body grows and new needs arise,” he added.
EXCEPTIONAL ACADEMIC PROGRAMS
Since both institutions are committed to academic excellence and a strong Catholic identity, St. Paul students will benefit from a close partnership with a university whose identity is based on a strong foundation in both the liberal arts and pre-professional programs.
• Faculty Support: Assumption faculty will provide support to St. Paul faculty in the area of curriculum development, enabling them access to the latest teaching strategies to prepare students to succeed academically in a university environment. Professional development opportunities for St. Paul faculty will go beyond the existing individual graduate programs. For example, the “Lunch and Learn” series offered through Assumption’s D’Amour Center for Teaching Excellence (DCTE) can provide teachers with ongoing insights into educational methodologies. St. Paul faculty can also seek to participate in the DCTE’s “Course Innovation Academy” at which a St. Paul course could undergo transformation into a more dynamic learning experience for students.
On Campus Pre-College Program: St. Paul would also be guaranteed two slots in Assumption’s Core Text and Enduring Questions (CTEQ) pre-college program.
• Centers and Institutes: St. Paul students and/or faculty will be able to engage with Assumption’s centers and institutes to complement and enhance their academic experience. Topics include cybersecurity, neuroscience, teaching excellence, global studies, purpose and vocation, ecumenism, and French language and culture.
• Internship Opportunities: Students at both institutions will be eligible to apply for internships. For example, students in Assumption’s Grenon School of Business may intern at St. Paul to support website development, social media strategy or other public relations activities. St. Paul students will be eligible to explore areas of higher education administration such as public relations, enrollment management, athletics, campus ministry and more.
DUAL ENROLLMENT OPPORTUNITIES
As an “Assumption Scholar,” academically gifted St. Paul students would be invited to take up to four college classes for credit at both institutions. Starting in their junior year, St. Paul students will be offered three courses at no cost; the fourth class will be offered at half-price, and, if the scholar were to enroll at Assumption, a credit would be offered for that class. If a St. Paul student chose to attend Assumption, this would provide considerable cost savings as students would have the opportunity to earn an undergraduate degree in three-and-a-half years. The scholars would be provided seamless admission to Assumption, which would include guaranteed merit scholarships, eligibility for early action admission at Assumption, and an application fee waiver.
UNIQUE STUDENT LIFE OFFERINGS
St. Paul and Assumption will also develop a program to support students who seek a deeper connection between their spiritual, personal, intellectual and social lives. Combined mentoring, service, and travel opportunities will comprise a partnership that builds community through shared experiences with a small group of students and a faculty mentor. “Our goal is to motivate students to find their calling and to identify and answer key questions in order to live a purposeful life,” President Cesareo said. The experience includes retreats, service projects and an option to reside at Assumption’s Rome Campus.
Assumption’s Mentor Collective, which focuses on the academic, social, and spiritual success of students during their first-year at the college, will be replicated at St. Paul. It will pair high school freshmen with Assumption juniors with similar interests who are eager to listen, inspire and help navigate challenges and recognize opportunities. St. Paul students will learn what to expect in high school, how to approach challenges and gain college preparation advice and valuable insights, while Assumption student mentors develop skills to become more effective leaders.
