Historic agreement signed between local universities
Of the St. Louis American
Harris-Stowe State University, in partnership with Webster University, announced on Valentine’s Day a collaborative degree in Business Administration, which could lead to graduate degrees. Harris-Stowe President Dr. Henry Givens Jr. and Webster President Dr. Richard Meyer officially signed the agreement on Feb. 14 on the Harris-Stowe campus.
According to Givens, the collaborative will be of major benefit to both schools, because it puts Harris-Stowe in a position to recruit students who would like to make a smooth transition from undergraduate to graduate level studies. Those same students would be “ushered right onto the Webster University campus and participate in the business graduate program,” Givens said.
Calling it a “very, very special day in the history of Harris-Stowe State University,” Givens added, “Ladies and gentlemen, this is a big deal.”
“Today is truly a wonderful one because it marks a formal signing of a historic agreement between our institutions to undertake a remarkable and beneficial project in graduate business administration,” Givens said.
“This is indeed a win-win undertaking that signals the beginning of what we all hope will be many more joint efforts between our two institutions of higher learning.”
Meyer recognized the significance of the date, saying, “In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, you know why we’re really here? To celebrate the love affair between Harris-Stowe and Webster University. Today, we share more than just the stage.”
“We share mutual goals to provide a quality education to the communities we serve,” Meyer said.
“On behalf of the Webster community, I am proud to welcome the future graduates of Harris-Stowe State University business program to the world of Webster University.”
Meyer said the collaboration would help “meet the unmet needs of our community and to make the quality of education accessible and affordable to those pursuing personal and professional growth.”
“As a result of this collaboration, we have removed the hurdles and facilitated the mobility of students to achieve greater heights in their fields of study and their chosen careers,” Meyer said.
“This direct access to the Webster University School of Business and Technology program will open doors on an international scale.”
Webster Business School Dean Benjamin Akande said the agreement “confirms a marriage of excellence between two institutions that are clearly committed to uplifting others by giving them the most important, the most significant attribute that is out there, which is the power of knowledge.”
“What this does is recognize the academic rigor of both institutions. It speaks to the quality and substance of our programs and to the value that we hold to our graduates. It also enables a seamless transition of HSSU graduates who are committed to pursuing graduate education at Webster University,” Akande said.
“I must say that it has been a great relationship working with Dr. Givens and the faculty of the Busch School of Business to craft this very unique relationship. It has been a teamwork of equals coming together, working together, thinking about the future and trying to create something that makes us better.”
HSSU Board of Trustees Chairman Wayman Smith said, “This is a historic occasion and another step in a long series of steps that began 150 years ago. Not only can these young people major in education and business administration, information technology, etc., but now, they can have a master’s degree in business. What a wonderful thing.”
Webster’s post-graduate degree offerings include the MBA, Doctorate of Management, Master of Arts and Master of Science degrees in various areas.
Harris-Stowe’s Business Administration degree program is the university’s fastest-growing area, and consists of more than 800 students, who are working to earn their BS degrees in the areas of accounting, business administration, health care management, information sciences and computer technology and hospitality and tourism.
In the fall of 2006, Harris-Stowe launched an accelerated business degree program, which offers evening and weekend courses. Two years ago, Harris-Stowe unveiled the Anheuser-Busch School of Business Administration, which is located at the University’s South Campus, in South St. Louis.
