Provost Steven J. Berberich (center) traveled to Nassau to sign a partnership agreement with The Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute. He was flanked by (from left) Sherese Cunningham, BAMSI’s registrar and manager of student support services; Matheus Costa de Assis, UMSL’s associate director of international recruitment; Jill Bockhorst, UMSL’s project manager for strategic partnerships; and BAMSI President Ravennia Roberts-Hanna. (Submitted photo)
The University of Missouri–St. Louis continues to forge connections in The Bahamas, and a new transfer agreement will help students from The Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute pursue their business education at the university and expand their career opportunities.
Under the five-year agreement, students who complete two academic years in the BAMSI School of Business and Management’s Associate of Science program – both traditional and online – in business management will be able to able to transfer up to 65 credit hours toward a BSBA in any emphasis area at UMSL’s Ed G. Smith College of Business.
Additionally, students in the Associate of Science program in agribusiness will be able to apply 62 credit hours toward a BSBA with an emphasis in supply chain management. In both cases, students will need 63 or fewer credit hours to complete their degrees.
“Our goal is to create a transfer pathway for BAMSI students to earn a business degree at UMSL,” said Reggie Hill, UMSL’s vice chancellor for strategic enrollment and career advancement. “By combining their background in agriculture and marine science with an UMSL business education, graduates will be well prepared to lead and grow businesses in The Bahamas’ agriculture and fisheries industries.”
UMSL Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Steven J. Berberich visited the institute in Nassau last month to finalize the agreement.
“This reflects UMSL’s commitment to expanding our global reach through meaningful academic partnerships,” Berberich said. “Collaborations like this create new opportunities for talented students to pursue a UMSL education while strengthening our international presence and enriching our campus community. We are excited to build on our growing relationships in The Bahamas and welcome BAMSI students as they continue their academic journeys at UMSL.”
It follows earlier partnerships UMSL has established in conjunction with The Bahamas Ministry of Education. The first agreement brought an initial cohort of 20 students from The Bahamas’ Public School Scholars Programme or who were recipients of the National Tuition Assistance Scholarship to UMSL in 2022. Last year, UMSL partnered with The Bahamas Ministry of Education and Technical and Vocational Training to create a National Teachers and Guidance Counselors Grant that helps teachers and counselors in the Ministry of Education pursue master’s, bachelor’s, graduate and specialist certificate programs offered by UMSL’s Colleges of Education, Business and Arts and Sciences in national priority areas specific to this agreement.
UMSL is expected to have more than 80 students from The Bahamas enrolled during the new academic year.
Shu Schiller, dean of the Ed G. Smith College of Business, is glad to be building even more connections.
“The partnership with BAMSI presents exciting opportunities for UMSL,” she said. “In the domain of business and related fields, we are excited to build pathways for BAMSI students to join the Ed G. Smith College of Business and complete a bachelor’s degree. In addition, we continue to explore expanded domains and hope to include agribusiness, entrepreneurship and more fields of study in other colleges and units at UMSL.”
The agreement also supports BAMSI’s broader efforts to expand academic opportunities for its students through international partnerships that strengthen workforce development and economic growth in The Bahamas.
“We at BAMSI are deeply grateful for this partnership, which underscores the strength of our two-year curriculum and the transformative impact of an UMSL business degree,” said BAMSI President Raveenia Roberts-Hanna. “Business has no borders, and this seamless transition equips our graduates with the global perspective needed to perform at the highest level. Looking ahead, we are excited to expand this relationship and empower a new generation of leaders to drive sustainable economic growth across The Bahamas and beyond.”
