University of Belize

Infobox_University


name = University of Belize
motto = Education Empowers A Nation
established = August 1 2000
type = Private
president= Dr. Santos Mahung
city = Belmopan (campuses in Belize City and Punta Gorda)
state = Cayo District
country = BLZ
undergrad = about 4,000
postgrad =
faculty = 300
campus = Belmopan: Suburban
Belize City: Urban
Punta Gorda: Urban
nickname =
athletics = UB Black Jaguars (Association of Tertiary Level Institutions of Belize (ATLIB))
free_label =
free =
website= [http://www.ub.edu.bz/ www.ub.edu.bz]
mascot = the Black Jaguar
endowment=
school colors = Purple and GoldThe University of Belize is an English-speaking multi-location institution of higher education, and the national university of the Central American country of Belize. Campus locations are found in Belmopan, Belize City, Punta Gorda, as well as several field centers elsewhere in Belize. The University of Belize offers certificates, associate degrees, bachelor degrees, and some graduate programs. The main campuses are in Belmopan (currently undergoing expansion) and Belize City. The current president of the University of Belize is Dr. Santos Mahung, who succeeds Dr. Corinth Morter Lewis.

The university's colors are purple and gold; its mascot is the "Black Jaguar" and its motto "Education Empowers a Nation".

2006 Statistics

*Students: about 4,000 (all undergraduate)
*Programs offered: 34
*Faculty and Staff: 300

International programs with 45 other institutions, Housing: Students can live both on and off campus.

Administration

* President: Dr. Santos Mahung
* Chairman of the Board of Trustees: Mr. Luis Zabaneh
* Provost: Dr. Marco Antonio Olsen
* Human Resources: Ms. Yura Monsanto
* Student Affairs: Mrs. Jean Perriott
* Student Services: Ms. Sharon Palacio
* Development: Dr. Geraldo Flowers
* Registrar: Dr. Roy Young
* Director of Recreation and Sport: Mr. Kirk Smith
* Deans of Faculty:
** Dr. Vilma Joseph (Education and Arts)
** Mr. Fatai Akinkuolie (Management and Social Sciences)
** Dr. Sherline Smith-Augustine (Nursing and Allied Health)
** Dr. Thippi Thiagarajan (Science and Technology)
** Unknown (Agriculture and Natural Resources)

Board of Trustees

These persons supervise the administration of UB.
* Alice Castillo
* Dr. Andre Sosa
* Dr. Corinth Morter Lewis (replaced by Dr. Santos Mahung)
* Ms. Jacqueline Willoughby
* Dr. Luis Zabaneh (now with Social Security Board)
* Mrs. Marian McNab
* Moses Sulph (Student Government Rep.)
* The Rev. Canon Phillip Wright
* Eugene Waight
* Joseph Bennett
* Luz Longsworth
* Allison Crawford
* Marjorie Bennett

Divisions of study

The University is composed of the following faculties: Education and Arts, Management & Social Sciences, Science and Technology, Agriculture & Natural Resources, and Nursing and Allied Health.

Other facilities include a language institute and marine research center. Students are able to get hands-on experience in the field in biology, zoology, marine biology, anthropology and archeology (among others) at the university's field stations.

Faculty of Education and Arts

The Faculty of Education and Arts was formed in 2000 from an amalgamation of teacher education programs at the former University College of Belize and Belize Teacher's College and received its present name in 2003.

Its mission is to promote excellence in teaching, research and service, particularly the development of Belizean teachers and educators. It considers itself the central unit of UB due to many of its courses forming part of the general core of the university curriculum. As such, it contributes to the broadening of its students' minds and their preparation for the wider world.

The University also runs an Early Childhood Stimulation Center, managed by this faculty, on the Belmopan campus.

Current courses offered:
* Diploma in Education
* Associate Degrees: A.A. Primary Education, A.A. English
* Bachelor Degrees: B.A. Primary Education, English Education, Secondary Education (Maths, Biology, Business/Accounting/Management/Computers), English.

Admissions Policy:
* Associate's: High School Diploma (min. GPA 2.5 and 2.5 or above in English and Math), ATLIB English and Math general test, or combined score of 890 on the SAT or 18 on the ACT.
* Bachelor's: Associate Degree from recognized institutions, scores same as above. Transfer credits allowed for courses graded C+ or higher.
* Diploma: Bachelor's Degree from a recognized institution.

Faculty of Management and Social Sciences

Formed from the former University College of Belize's Business and Management programs, this faculty received its name in 2003 with the addition of Tourism programs. It seeks to professionally train Belize's economic contributors and enhance their contributions to the public and private sectors of Belize in teaching, service and research.

Current courses offered:
* Associate's: Business Administration, Office Administration, Marketing, Tourism Studies.
* Bachelor's: Accounting, Business Administration, Tourism Management.

Admissions Policy: Same as other faculties, though FMSS calls for GCE A-Level or CAPE passes also.

Faculty of Science and Technology

Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Faculty of Nursing and Allied Health

Student Government and Activities

The University maintains an Association of Student Governments responsible for maintaining the well-being of students at the University. The Associations run sports tournaments, debates, symposia, special events and community service at their respective campuses.

Current Student Government

Elections for student government were held on the major campuses on April 24 and 25, 2007. These persons emerged following those elections:
* President, Belmopan: Anthony Lucas (succeeds John Friesen after 2007 elections)
* President, Belize City: Moses Sulph (succeeds interim president and candidate Rollin Powery after 2007 elections)

Athletics

In sports, the university has fielded teams in local sports tournaments. The "Black Jaguars", its semi-professional basketball squad, has recently won a national title and two overall. Its canoe teams also do well in locally organized races.

History

Previous attempts at national universities

* Belize College of Arts, Science and Technology (Belcast): established in early 1980s. Novel concept but shelved by mid 1980s.
* University College of Belize: run and established by Ferris State College of Michigan, USA. One of the five institutions that merged to form UB.

Amalgamation

The University of Belize was established in August 2000 as an amalgamation of five venerable tertiary-level institutions:
* Bliss School of Nursing
* Belize Technical College
* Belize Teachers' College
* University College of Belize
* Belize School of Agriculture.Except for the last one, all institutions forming UB were located in Belize City; UCB had established a junior college affiliate in Belmopan.

Lewis replacement

Dr. Morter-Lewis was replaced in June 2007 as president of the University of Belize by Santos Mahung. Reports from Belmopan on Lewis' removal first surfaced at Belize City radio station WAVE Radio thanks to City Councillor and UB student Phillip Willoughby on Friday April 27, 2007 and announced by Channel 5 later that night on its newscast [ [http://www.channel5belize.com/archive_detail_story.php?story_id=18416 "Is UB president leaving school?"] - News 5 story, April 27, 2007] . Willoughby further claimed that the University was considering divesting all of its campuses in Belize City, a move previously thwarted by student activists. The first report was later confirmed and Dr. Lewis' replacement named. [ [http://www.channel5belize.com/archive_detail_story.php?story_id=18460 "It’s official: Lewis out, Mahung in as U.B. president"] - News 5 story, May 7, 2007] [ [http://www.channel5belize.com/archive_detail_story.php?story_id=18490 "P.M. offers details of U.B. presidential shuffle"] - News 5 story, May 10, 2007] According to Prime Minister Said Musa, a former Minister of Education, Dr. Lewis would oversee the implementation of CAPE-level studies at the University and junior colleges in Belize. He further claimed the decision was mutual, a sentiment echoed by Lewis to students in a special meeting held in Belmopan on Monday May 7. Lewis told students she had one year left on her contract and would stay on in an advisory and lecturing capacity to Mahung. Mahung, having taken office in June, is the University's third president, joining Lewis and Dr. Angel Cal. He made his first major public appearance on Channel 7's Mek Wave and Lik Road, hosted by House member Michael Finnegan, in November.

References

External links

* [http://www.ub.edu.bz/ University of Belize Website]