Type National University Provost Dr. Wilma Wright Address Belmopan, Belize Mascot Black Jaguar President Clement Sankat | Established August 1, 2000 Academic staff 400 Phone +501 822-3680 Total enrollment 4,090 (2010) | |
Motto Education Empowers A Nation Chairman Mrs. Imani Fairweather-Morrison, MS Similar Galen University, St John's College - Belize, Corozal Junior College, Sacred Heart Junior Co, Wesley Junior College Profiles | ||
The University of Belize (UB) is an English-speaking multi-locational institute for higher education, and the national university of the Belize. The institution offers certificates, diplomas, associate degrees, bachelor begrees, and a graduate degree. The UB Central Campus is found in Belmopan City, the campus is the site of a clean solar energy project which will help make the university self sustainable and off the grid.
Contents
- History
- Previous attempts at national universities
- Amalgamation
- Campuses
- Central Campus Belmopan
- Central Farm Agriculture Campus
- Belize City Campuses
- University of Belize Punta Gorda Campus
- Admissions policy
- Divisions of study
- Environmental Research Institute
- Athletics
- Miscellaneous
- References
The university's colors are purple and gold; its mascot is the "Black Jaguar" and its motto is "Education Empowers a Nation".
History
The evolution of the Belizean university can be traced over a 23-year period beginning in 1977 with the establishment of the Committee for Sixth Form Studies in response to emerging concerns regarding the relevance of existing tertiary education, and ending in the year 2000 with a second attempt to coordinate and rationalize Belizean higher or tertiary education. During this time, the evolution of the university resulted in the establishment of three institutions: the Belize College of Arts, Sciences and Technology, the University College of Belize, and the University of Belize.
Previous attempts at national universities
Belizean nationalists long wished to decolonize the educational system and rely less on foreign academic institutions. In 1979 the ruling People's United Party (PUP) established the Belize College of Arts, Science, and Technology (BELCAST) as a state institution free of church involvement. The government secured funds from the European Economic community for construction of a campus in Belmopan, but the campus was never built. On February 24, 1986, it was announced at a meeting of the National Council on Education that BELCAST would be closed. The rival United Democratic Party assumed power in December 1984 and later established an alternative college—the University College of Belize—on July 1986, created and maintained by Ferris State College of Big Rapids, Michigan. Nationalists were dismayed that the new University College of Belize would be administered by non-Belizeans. Intense political controversy arose in 1991 when it was discovered that the university had not been properly accredited, calling into question the value of its degrees. A new PUP government severed its agreement with Ferris State College, and the state of Belize assumed full control over the university.
Amalgamation
The University of Belize was established in August 2000 as an amalgamation of five tertiary-level institutions:
Except for the last one, all institutions forming UB were located in Belize City; UCB had established a college affiliate in Belmopan.
Campuses
Many of the campuses functional today were once their own individual schools until their merger into today's University of Belize.
Central Campus, Belmopan
Address: Corner Stann Creek Street and University Drive, Belmopan
Former site of the UCB outpost, it is where most programs and the university's administrative offices are located. Home of the Regional Language Center where students from Latin American countries learn English, the Information Technology Department, and all the science labs.
Central Farm (Agriculture Campus)
Located in Central Farm, Cayo on the George Price Highway in the Cayo District, former site of the Belize School of Agriculture. It offered two year programs in Applied Sciences/Agriculture and Natural Resources. After the amalgamation, it remained almost wholly intact as the Department of Agriculture.
Belize City Campuses
Management and Social Sciences Campus
Location: Corner Graduate Crescent and College Street, West Landivar, Belize City
Former site of University College of Belize (UCB), now the home of business programs as well as Belize City administrative offices for UB.
Education and Arts Campus
Location: University Drive, West Landivar, Belize City
Former site of Belize Teachers' College, the Faculties of Education and Arts and Nursing, Allied Health and Social Work share space on campus.
Science and Technology Campus
Location: Freetown Road, Belize City
Former site of Belize Technical College, shares spaces with Belize District Institute of Vocational and Technical Education and Training (ITVET).
University of Belize, Punta Gorda Campus
Marine field stations: Hunting Caye and Calabash Caye field station.
The University of Belize in collaboration with San Pedro Junior College offers a B.Sc. in Tourism Management.
Admissions policy
Associate's: High School Diploma (minimum GPA 2.5 and 2.5 or above in English and Math). Four passes in CXC subjects, which must include English and Mathematics. ATLIB English and Math general test pass, 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. Credit transferability is subject to the university's criteria.
Diploma: Bachelor's Degree from a recognized institution.
Divisions of study
The university has four main faculties, each with departments. Each department offers degrees from associate degrees (1st undergraduate degree) to bachelor degrees (undergraduate degree). The master degree (graduate) program in Biodiversity Conservation & Sustainable Development is offered in partnership with the University of the West Indies, Saint Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago, the University of Guyana and Anton de Kom University of Suriname.
Education and Arts
Management and Social Sciences
Science and Technology
Nursing, Allied Health, and Social Work
Students are able to get hands-on experience in the field of Biology, Zoology, Marine Biology, Anthropology and Archeology (among others) at the university's field stations.
Environmental Research Institute
The Environmental Research Institute (ERI), the newest department of the university, was inaugurated in January 2010. Belize has a wealth of natural resources, including the longest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere, which supports the country's most important industries, including tourism and agriculture. Recognizing this, the work of the ERI is focused on producing results that are relevant to the sustainable management of Belize's natural resources.
Athletics
The university is affiliated with the Association of Tertiary Level Institutions of Belize (ATLIB) and participates in that organization's sporting tournaments.
The university male basketball team is known as the "Black Jaguars". They have participated in local and international tournaments for several years and are former national semi-professional champions in the local tournament.
The university participates annually in the Ruta Maya River Challenge which is a four-day race. The participants of the Ruta Maya are local and foreign individuals.
Students can contact the Coordinator of Recreation and Sport on the Central Campus or the Coordinators of Student Affairs on the other campuses for details on participating in university sports. The university organizes intramural activities in: