Supporting HBCU Grads’ Global Marketplace Success Via New Public Health Program

SALISBURY, N.C. - Feb. 5, 2014 - PRLog -- The North Carolina Study Abroad/Global Engagement (SAGE) Partnership, a collaborative among that state's 11 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in 2014 will boost the percentage of global, marketplace-ready students. Working with IES Abroad and IERC Education Foundation for nearly a year, NC SAGE Partnership is introducing a slate of international courses that will integrate the health studies learning objectives of its members. "Public Health in Jamaica" is designed to deliver clear educational outcomes. The four-week, five-credit program will be held at the University of the West Indies-MONA in Kingston from May 29^th to June 26^th, 2014. Students must apply online by February 18. The program fee of $6,125 includes tuition, housing, and other amenities, and is PLUS loan-eligible.

Increasing study abroad participation among African Americans and first-generation college students, in general, has always been a challenge. "When you look at what employers want and the alarming graduate unemployment rate, something has to be done. How can you boost enrollment or increase retention if all you have is a degree and debt." What makes this (program) different, it's outcomes-driven and a resume-builder" says Steven W. Jones, Co-Founder, President and CEO of IERC Education Foundation (IERCEF). "We have learned much being out-in-front as advocates for increasing HBCU study abroad participation. It's been challenging and expensive, but that's how you learn fast and succeed. When is tuition cheap? We are fortunate to work with partners who understand the mission and see the big goal."

The NC SAGE Partnership was created as a platform for HBCU leaders and stakeholders committed to increasing the global competencies of their students entering an increasingly competitive workforce even if they never leave their state. Academic and graduate marketplace outcomes matter particularly when the unemployment rates for students-of-color, according to the Economic Policy Institute, can be double that of whites while many HBCU cohort (student loan) default rates soar above the national average. Achievement gaps like these play to HBCU's strengthens and reaffirm its legacy of mentorship and uplift. "Given that Livingstone College's 135th Founder's Day is tomorrow, this initiative honors the living-legacy of founder and first president: Dr. Joseph Charles Price" added Steven Jones.

"The (NC SAGE) Partnership is to bring together our institutions around the common interest of creating global citizens ready to excel in today's marketplace," proclaimed Dr. Jimmy R. Jenkins, Sr. President of Livingstone College, lead institution and developer with IERCEF of the NC SAGE Partnership. "This initiative is about three key things: one, proving HBCUs can collaborate in an environment of scarce resources; two, they can be integrative and move quickly; three, they are relevant globally and student-outcomes focused" adds Earl M. Brown, Jr. NC SAGE Partnership's coordinator. Students who wish to apply online should visit: http://www.livingstone.edu/academics/sage/ and be sure to register for the 2/13 at 4 pm webinar.

IES Abroad is a global, not-for-profit academic consortium of more than 200 top-tier American colleges and universities that has been a leader in study abroad programming for over 60 years. IES Abroad offers more than 115 study abroad programs in 35+ cities worldwide. More than 5,300 students enroll in IES Abroad programs each year.

NC SAGE Partnership is a collaborative student outcomes driven platform for North Carolina's 11 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The mission: Expanding the Pipeline of Global-Ready, First-Generation, North Carolinian Students. Livingstone College is co-founder and is lead institution.

IERC Education Foundation is the only social-enterprise using international field-study, study abroad, internships and service-learning, experiences to strengthen first-generation college students' academic and global marketplace outcomes. IERCEF developed College QUESTionnaire® and the NC SAGE Partnership platform.

Media Contact: Steven Jones, +1-443-553-2299, sjones@iercef.org, or Earl M. Brown, +1-704-216-6152, ebrownjr@livingstone.edu