GENERAL INFORMATION

History

SCEJC began classes on August 29, 1986. There was a need for a Junior College in the region to ensure that more students are provided with the opportunity to obtain a tertiary education. Prior to 1986, pursuing tertiary education was only possible in Belize City.

The emphasis for the first two years was Business. Successful students obtained an associate degree in business administration. Classes were held from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. after the regular high school program on the high school campus. It was in 1988 that students moved to the present site. The new building/compound was inaugurated on October 7, 1988. Finance was obtained from the Government of Belize, Caribbean Development Bank, and USAID through the Basic Needs Trust Fund Project.

Two other structures are now housed on the junior college campus; a 4-classroom building constructed in 2003 (bottom) and 2013 (top) by the Board of Governors and a 3-classroom building (bottom) donated by the Government of Belize through the Social Investment Fund project in 2011 and two training laboratories (tourism and health studies) on top constructed by the Board of Governors in 2014. The Board of Governors constructed another building in 2017 to house a new student lounge and the Early Childhood Program.

A wooden structure (Vidalia Cadogan Training Laboratory - VCTL) was purchased in 2017 to accommodate the need for ongoing practice and simulation activities of students pursuing a degree in primary and early childhood education.

The Science program was added in 1988, the Arts program in 1991, General Studies in 1994, Primary Education and Tourism & Hospitality in 2005, Health Studies in 2013, and Early Childhood Education in 2017. The Junior College was called Stann Creek Ecumenical Sixth Form up to 1998.

The main feeder school to the Junior College is Stann Creek Ecumenical High School. The High School began on September 16, 1974; a result of an amalgamation of the Stann Creek High School (Anglican) and the Austin High School (Catholic).

Ecumenical High School was administered by the Ecumenical Commission from 1974 up to 1983; when the Commission requested the Ministry of Education to assume responsibility for the High School. A Board of Governors was appointed, and the Community nature of the Institution was fully established. On the Board were representatives from the three Religious Denominations that first made up the Ecumenical Commission (Methodist, Anglican, and Roman Catholic), Parentteacher Association, Staff, and the Ministry of Education. The Board of Governors consisted of eleven members. They were responsible for both the High School division and Junior College.

The Board agreed to separate Administration and Staff effective August 23, 2004.

A separate Board for the Junior College was approved by the Ministry of Education effective May 1, 2008.

College Emblem

The Stann Creek Valley is agriculturally rich and, in order to identify with the area and communities which it serves, the College Emblem depicts a Basket of some of the main staples and products found in the Valley and the sea which washes the shores of the Stann Creek District. The three superimposed Doves represent the spiritual nature of the mission of the College and on a more natural plane they are symbolic of the three religious denominations that made up the original Ecumenical Commission; the Vine, separating the doves and the basket, signifies the aspirations of the Student Body. The Laurel, enclosing the two symbols, reminds us of the glory and freedom that education bestows on the individual. 'Caritas'love, concern for others - underlines the motto of the College

The Emblem is a reminder of the hopes, aspirations and goals of the College which is also to create an atmosphere of tolerance, harmony and peace within its community and the other communities it has been mandated to serve.

Vision

A safe environment where the community and junior college work collaboratively to afford students a quality and relevant educational experience that is comparable with global trends.

Mission

The Stann Creek Ecumenical Junior College is a comprehensive community College offering a wide range of academic programs with emphasis on Arts, Business and Science orientation. The Junior College focuses primarily on the development of the “total” individual. We embrace the philosophy that quality education should be affordable; thus living, learning, and working skills are fostered in each individual.

It is the duty of this institution to: i) provide its students with an education that is appreciative of the arts, science and business and their applications. ii) teach its students an appreciation and acceptance of the many cultures which have enhanced the Belizean mosaic. iii) develop in its students a respect and appreciation for the environment. iv) Imbue in each student a love of learning which will lead them to extend their boundaries of knowledge.

Values

Integrity – honest with strong moral principles.

Professionalism – conduct, behavior, and attitude conducive to a work/business environment.

Excellence – outstanding quality and always the best at what we do

Resourcefulness – quick (and creative ways) to overcome difficulties.

Sustainability - ability to maintain a balance within a changing environment.

Research - careful and detailed studies aimed at improving knowledge.

Service - to always provide a public need

Purpose

The College serves the educational requirements of the surrounding community as well as other areas. The College functions to provide educational opportunities in two broad categories: a) for the student seeking the first two years of work towards the baccalaureate degree, the college offers a range of courses which are transferable to other colleges and universities;` b) for the student wishing to enter an occupation at entry-level or above, the college offers programs of credit courses covering Arts, Business, Science and Primary Education.

The college began to offer certificate courses in 2009. So far, certificates have been issued in Primary Education, Early Childhood Education, and School Leadership in primary schools. The college is seeking to offer additional certificates in other field of study this coming school year.

Quality

Stann Creek Ecumenical Junior College is dedicated to providing quality education through excellence in personnel, programs, and facilities. Such quality will be the determining factor in the accountability of all college programs, personnel and facilities and will be judged against established performance criteria. In its quest for continued relevance, in concordance with global trends, the college seeks to engender in each student a love for learning, an appreciation of the environment, and a culture of volunteerism, service, and community mindedness.

Accountability

The college is responsible for creating an environment which is conducive for learning in which each student may, through the student’s own endeavors and the informed guidance of the course instructor, be successful. Learning objectives and performance indicators are established for each course.

Accreditation And Affiliation

The associate degree offered by Ecumenical Junior College is approved by the Government of Belize through action that was first established in August 1986. The College is also a member of the Association of Tertiary Level Institutions of Belize (ATLIB), Caribbean Area network for Quality Assurance in tertiary Education (CANQATE), and the Consortium for Belize Educational Cooperation (COBEC), an association founded in the 1980’s to form links between Belizean and US Colleges and Universities and to strengthen and expand capabilities in higher education in Belize.

Ecumenical Junior College, in August 2016, began to participate in a formal process of quality assurance. Seven quality standards were identified: Organization and Facilities, Governance, Curriculum, Faculty, Staffing, Student Support, and Assessment. This was the beginning of an initiative by the Ministry of Education, three local junior colleges, and a US COBEC-member institution (University of North Georgia) to increase accountability for the operations of junior colleges within the country.

The Belize National Accreditation Council will become operational in 2023. EJC will engage in the registration process as soon as possible and begin the journey to accreditation based on guidance provided by the Council.

SCHOLARSHIPS and FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

Government of Belize Scholarship

The Government of Belize offers scholarships to some First- and Second- Year students. Some changes to the conditions have been made (students will be provided with updates as they are received from the Ministry). All students must maintain good academic standing to keep their scholarships.

CSEC tuition scholarships were given to first year students who pass three or more CXCs since 2020 (changed from six since the pandemic, which must include Mathematics and English).

First year students are expected to maintain a GPA of 2.5 or more to keep the scholarship. Some changes have been made to the amount of money paid by the MOE due to constraints brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. The new amount paid per student is $300.

Keep checking for updates at the bursar’s office.

Students must complete half of their program requirements (plans issued to students) by the end of first year and maintain a GPA of 2.0 or above to qualify for tuition scholarship in second year.

The Ministry of Education, via its MOECST website, has also provided an opportunity for students to apply for financial assistance. Students are encouraged to do so long ahead of the registration time to allow for the review process to take place.

Ecumenical Junior College Scholarship

The Board of Governors offers a one-year scholarship to each of the top three students graduating from Stann Creek Ecumenical High School (regular). It covers registration and tuition. If any of the students receives another scholarship, he/she is entitled to a $500 book award for the year (not redeemable in cash).

The first-year honor roll student at Ecumenical Junior College, with the highest cumulative GPA, also receives a scholarship that covers registration for the second year.

Ecumenical Junior College offers work scholarships to deserving students each semester (some restrictions apply). Work scholars are required to assist with all school-based events and activities.

EJC Faculty and staff provides a partial tuition scholarship to a deserving student (restrictions apply).

Newly added are sports scholarships. Recipients are required to complete at least 150 hours of service to the institution per semester. Sports scholarship recipients are required to take lead roles in SCEJC’s sporting activities as well as representing the institution at the required levels.

Athletes are further required to behave in a fashion that is exemplary and fitting for a representative of SCEJC while simultaneously improving their athletic and academic performances. Furthermore, the athletes shall provide help in promoting the sporting profile of SCEJC media coverage, open days, and conferences.

Sponsorship/donors

Are advised that students must provide authorization for the College to release documents to them. Spouses MUST also receive authorization. Parents of students who are 18 years and older must also receive their consent to conduct business on their behalf.

Other agencies who may offer scholarship opportunities include Belize Tourism Board, Belize Electricity Limited, Social Security Board, and Rotary Club, among others. Students can check the websites or call the offices for more information.

The Development Finance Corporation also offers an attractive student loan package. Feel free to visit the office in Dangriga for more information. SCEJC will provide DFC with documents for interested students (students will need to make the request at the office at least two days before the DFC appointment). Students are encouraged to seek DFC assistance early to allow for processing and disbursement on a timely basis.

In-state tuition at U.S. COBEC Schools

Some COBEC institutions allow Belizeans who enroll at their institutions to pay tuition at the in-state tuition rate. After being accepted by the university, students are advised to check if they are eligible for in-state tuition. Conditions apply. Kindly visit the COBEC website here for more information.

Negotiations must be made with individual institutions since each will have their own package.

Admission Procedures

Ecumenical Junior College is interested in candidates, with ability and character, who are prepared and willing to participate in rigorous academic work at the tertiary level.

Requests for information and/or application forms should be directed to:

Dean of Admissions

Stann Creek Ecumenical Junior College

P.O. Box 122

Dangriga, Belize

E-mail: info@ejc.edu.bz

Telephone: 5222654

Website

Online application can be done here. When completing the online application form you will need to upload the following items:

1. A recent (passport-size) picture (PDF or image file)

2. A copy of your social security card (PDF or image file)

3. A copy of your COVID vaccination records (PDF or image file) if in possession of one.

4. A copy of your latest (most recent) high school transcript (PDF or image file - up to 5 files)

If you have any problems or if you need a desktop computer to complete your online application form, do visit our library/resource center on our campus. Our librarian will assist you in completing your application form.

A non-refundable fee of $20.00 must accompany the completed application form. An additional $10.00 is charged for late application.

An applicant may also apply in person.

Credentials for admission should include: a) Completed application form (can be in writing or online). b) Proof of having successfully completed high school or its equivalent. c) Association for Tertiary Level Institutions of Belize (ATLIB) Placement Test. d) CXC Math and English at the General Proficiency level (or an SCEJC placement test). e) A recent passport size photograph. f) Social Security number. g) Proof of having satisfied the entry requirements for each course that the student desires to take (see course outlines for entry requirement).

When all required credentials have been received, they will be reviewed. Letters of acceptance via email will be forwarded to applicant who submitted a complete package.

Accepted Students who will need developmental English, Mathematics, and Accounts will need to plan smartly to allow them to transition smoothly into the college courses. ENGL 100 must be taken in the summer (or in the evening when offered) to allow a student to meet English requirements within two years. All developmental courses (ENGL 100, MATH 100, CHEM 100, and ACCT 100 will be offered as a blended (or online) course during the summer.

EJC is working on facilitating dual enrollment for students who wish to take the developmental courses while in their senior years in a high school.

Consideration may be given to applicants who have:

1) presented credentials showing a strong upward trend in high school grades.

2) shown participation in extracurricular or community activities.

3) maintained at least an average of B especially in English and mathematics and their major(s) from the previous institution.

4) good moral standings.

5) worked in a recognized and accepted profession and have life experiences sufficient to warrant acceptance into a program.

Application for admission and complete credentials should be in the Admissions Office before the deadlines stated on the application form.

Orientation

All new students are expected to participate in an orientation program at the beginning of each school year at Ecumenical Junior College. During this program, the students will be introduced to a wide range of academic and extracurricular opportunities through which they will be able to make their stay at Ecumenical a happy and fruitful experience. New students will meet teaching staff, advisors, and members of the student union. During this time too, the students will be given their schedule of classes, catalogue/handbook, and their booklists.

***Orientation is extended to two weeks when classes are taken online to allow enough time for troubleshooting and devising intervention plans.

Starting August 2023, orientation will be reduced to one week only. Students are advised to plan for registration early. See the registration schedule for 2023-2024.

The institutional policy on absences (see information on course outlines) will apply once the drop/add period has passed. Faculty are NOT obligated to provide missed work to students who simply choose to take advantage of the drop/add period to be absent.

The institution makes provision for payment by installment for students to encourage early registration and to limit the need for absence from classes. Students are required to honor their written agreement with the institution to help maintain a smooth flow of institutional operations. This flexibility in payment is offered to students in good faith. It is expected that they will reciprocate the act by being truthful and considerate. Any sudden change in circumstances that prevents the student from meeting his/her agreement must be communicated with the institution immediately and a new agreement renegotiated.

It is an offense - and a very disrespectful act against a professional body - for students to enter a class at the college without first arranging for enrollment through the institutional office. In such a case, the student will be removed from class. If he/she has acquired a grade before the act becomes known, this will be disregarded and not recorded on institutional records.

College Seminar Attendance

Two periods (9:40a.m. – 10:30a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays) are dedicated on the institutional timetable for general assemblies and college seminars. Students are expected to attend these events to get information on institutional rules, procedures, policies, and announcements; to share information with each other and participate in non-academic school related activities (e.g., clubs and committees), and to be addressed by invited speakers from the wider community.

Attendance of college seminars is also a part of graduation requirement (participation). All students are expected to attend these seminars for their own academic enrichment and to stay in tuned with happenings at the College and in the community/country. The institution will not be held responsible for mistakes students make or information they do not know because they chose not to attend college seminars.

Second year students are required to have attended a minimum of 20 seminars by the end of their second year. They will be issued a college seminar attendance card, which must be signed by their academic advisors after each seminar (a digital version may be used). This card must be uploaded to the graduation form as part of the graduation requirements.

If students have less than 20 logged attendances by the second Friday in May (before graduation), they will be required to perform an additional hour of community service on campus for each absence to make up for the 20 hours required.

***an online college seminar calendar will be shared with students when face to face interactions are not allowed (due to pandemic or other emergencies). The expectations will remain the same.

The Student Union executive members and the institutional Prefects may use the 9:40a.m. period on Fridays to plan student activities and review institutional policies.

Transfer Credits

Students who have attended another recognized tertiary level institution within the last four years may apply for credits to be transferred to Ecumenical Junior College. These students must meet our requirements and ensure that their official transcripts are received within the given deadline for application for admission. Transfer of credits applies only to courses in which a C or a higher grade was achieved.

A maximum of thirty-three (33) credits are accepted towards an Associate Degree.

College Completion

College grades do note expire once students have completed their institutional requirements and the associate degree (or certificate) has been issued to them.

Students have six years from the time they began college in which to complete an associate degree. Grades expire after a six-year cycle.

Students will be required to redo subjects for which the length of years have been exhausted.

DROP/ADD

Students may drop or add a course within the first week of class. An official drop/add form must be completed, signed by the academic advisor, and submitted to the secretary. No student will be allowed in class after drop/add. Drop/add is extended to two weeks for blended and online instructions.

Students will NOT be awarded grades for subjects they do that they have NOT registered for.

Failure to formally drop a subject (as noted above) within the drop/add period will result in an “F” for that subject.

Note that “F” will drastically affect final GPA.

Program Change

Students requesting a change of program must fill out an official change of program form Permission must be granted from administration for the change to be acknowledged. Students will need to complete ALL required courses for the new program to meet graduation requirements

Students must be mindful that a change in program may require them to take longer to complete the program. No special consideration will be given; students will need to follow the new program sequence assigned

Returning Students

Students who stop-out and return after their program cycle has completed will be required to follow the current program plan (the one in effect when they return). That is, they will need to meet the course requirement of the current program to fulfill graduation requirements.

Intransit Student

(For transfer purposes)

For our purpose, in-transit will mean a student who is only attending SCEJC to accumulate credits needed by another institution to meet college completion requirements

An in-transit student will be required only to pay the supplementary fee of $99 along with the tuition cost for the subjects he/she is taking provided he/she meets stated course requirements (including prerequisites). These fees must be paid in full before starting the course(s). Note that some subjects have added fees (e.g., laboratory fees)

An in-transit student will not qualify to part-take in student union elections and access special student support and services. If such a student wants additional access, he/she will need to pay the additional fees related to the service.

Tuition And Fees

Tuition is payable in advance (e.g., at registration). Fees are non-refundable.

Kindly refer to the institutional calendar for information on pre-registration and registration.

Total fees for 1st years = $336 (semester one)

Total fees for 2nd & 3rd years = $326 (semester one)

Semester two fees for everyone = $294

Tuition

$28 per credit hour for full-time students

$30 per credit hour for part-time students

***Laboratory fees are for students majoring Science (all) and Tourism & Hospitality Management

Fees Are Subject To Change By Managing Authority

Some adjustments will be made to fees once classes are taken online, and if students do not come to campus for instruction (conditions apply). Some fees are relabeled to allow for the change in focus of preparation (based on instruction modality).

More information on Online Distance Education (ODE) is available here.

EJC Refund Policy

Tuition is refundable only upon written application to the Admissions Office. The proportion of the tuition refundable is calculated on the following basis and depends on official withdrawal of the student from the college (with approved and documented valid reason).

Date of withdrawal

Proportion refundable

Exceptions will be made only in cases of extended sickness (verified by a practitioner) that is formally reported to administration on time (within a week of missed class). In cases like these, the administration will hold off payment and allow a student to redo the semester without additional cost if payment was made in full. If not, students will only be required to pay the balance.

Withdrawal

Students who did not fill out an official withdraw form will need to pay the full bill for the semester.

A stop-out of one year will be considered temporary withdrawal, and students will be accepted to class with no need to reapply if they are in good financial standing with the institution.

If the programs to which students are returning have been reviewed and modified, they will need to follow the current program plan and meet all associated requirements.

If the student withdrew without proper documentation and has stayed away for more than a year, he/she will be required to reapply. His/her acceptance will be conditional (based on availability of space, ability to meet fees payment, academic standing, and conduct).

A student MUST inform the office (fill out the withdrawal form) of his/her withdrawal from a course or from the institution. Failure to do so will result in F being recorded by the subject teachers and the records office.

NO grade query or grade appeal made after unofficial withdrawal will be entertained by the institution.

The timeline for appeal as noted on the grade appeal form remains the same for students who withdrew from courses.

Examination

Examinations

Examinations are given at mid-semester and at the end of each semester of the academic year. Examinations and other assessments are given during the semester at times specified on the individual instructor’s schedule.

End of semester exams are 40% of a student’s final grade. This 40% is broken down into two parts: 25% (written) and 15% (project, portfolio, report, reflection - to encourage critical thinking).

Students should be able to request to see an instructor’s table of specification (test blueprint) before final examination.

Students should also expect to receive rubrics for structured type tests, projects, reports, presentations, etc.

Final examination date is communicated on the institutional calendar from the beginning of the school year. This should also be stated on individual faculty’s course outlines (this should shed light on format requirements). An exam schedule is also posted on the college bulletin board (and shared via the institutional social media platforms).

Students who are NOT present for examination without valid reasons (proof) will receive an automatic F on that exam.

The ONLY exception is if the student has a serious reason for being absent (specifically - being hospitalized, got into an accident, or a parent or sibling passed away). These reasons MUST be supported by official documents from qualified personnel.

Issues of oversleeping, forgetting, normal weather-related issues (e.g., rain) will not be seen as valid reasons. Students are encouraged to make use of the affordance of technology (e.g. alarms) to schedule reminders to themselves (use calendars on devices).

*Disposition being taught – responsibility

End of a semester final grade appeals for students who did not sit their final exams and who did not receive approval for absence from administration will not be entertained.

Assessment

Students are expected to meet course requirements as communicated by individual teachers (course outline and in classroom discussions). Daily grades are worth 60% of final grade. All assessment dates will be stated on course outlines or communicated with students during class sessions (documented).

Students need to inform the office and teacher of their absence from any of these. Students MUST provide valid excuses for their absences to be allowed to sit the missed assessment.

No assessment will be administered after the due date where excuses are not deemed valid. Students are reminded that it is their duty and moral obligation to inform the institution of their absence and provide valid reasons (timely). This means that they ought to call, write, or send a relative to inform the office. Sending of personal text to a teacher, student support, or a classmate that does not reach the administrative office will NOT be considered official and will NOT be recognized by the office when there is a grievance or a request for appeal.

If students are not capable of informing the office of their absence, they still need to request the assistance of a family member or friend to do so on their behalf.

School Trip

Trips are an important part of the overall student experience at the College. Students are expected to include preparation for trip attendance in their planning. SCEJC mission states that we educate the ‘total’ individual.

This is part of our drive for relevance in all our undertakings. Students are provided an opportunity to engage in placed-based practices and to live the experiences of persons in the field they are studying at the College.

Students under the age of 18 will require the written consent of their parents to attend overnight trips.

All students going on overnight trips MUST sign an agreement with the College. The teacher taking the trip will submit this to the office two days before the trip date. Students attending one day trips must fill out this form latest one day before the trip.

The Grading System

The degree to which a student has attained the stated objectives of a course is indicated by letter grades and quality points. The mid-semester and end-of-semester exams, together with a suitable number of course work from the semester will determine the semester grade of the student.

The weightings given to coursework will be at the discretion of the course teacher (justified by information provided on course outline). The daily grades account for 60% of a student’s final grade.

All supply-type questions (tests, laboratory work, etc.), group work, and presentation must be accompanied by clearly articulated rubrics (scoring guidelines). It is the student’s right to request these from his/her instructors.

Final grades are reported for each student for every course taken according to the following grading system.

will be evaluated using the national teacher education grading system. The passing grade for the internship is C+ (on EJC system of grading).

The following gives a more detailed description of the academic achievement level relating to each letter grade.

A Excellent - highest level of achievement in a particular area, and signifies exceptional competence and ability.

B+ Very Good - high level of achievement in the subject and an intelligent fulfillment of the course requirements.

B Good - above average and high level of achievement in a particular course.

C+ Very satisfactory - level of achievement in the subject is acceptable and demonstrates understanding.

C Satisfactory/Pass- demonstrates average understanding and a quality which satisfies requirements for graduation in major subject, and for passing cumulative GPA each academic year.

Any grade below C is NOT transferable to other institutions. The Ds are used as a minimum requirement at SCEJC for General Education Core subjects ONLY except for English (must be passed with C or above).

D+ Pass - shows understanding and demonstrates achievement below average.

D Minimum Pass - Demonstrates minimum achievement.

F Failure

As of August 2015, no WP, WF, or INC will be placed on progress reports. All these will be recorded as “F” if the course requirement is not fulfilled at the end of the semester. The only time a grade will not be recorded is when the student “officially” drops the course during the drop/add period or when the student had a legitimate reason (supported with valid documents) other than failure.

The reason must be related to sickness (verified) or accident that rendered the person unable to return to class beyond the time legally allotted. Such case must be reported to administration within a week of the incident. The approval of the Dean is needed.

Calculation Of Grades

Quality points earned for each course are determined by multiplying the number of quality-pointsper-hour for each course grade by the number of credit hours the course carries.

A student's grade point average (GPA) is computed by adding the quality points for all courses and then dividing by the total number of credit hours the student has for the same period (semester).

If a student repeats a course in which a grade of ‘C’ or less was attained, the original grade and the new grade will be recorded and the highest grade will be computed in the grade point average.

Students can ask their teachers to show them how their grades are calculated. This can be part of the class orientation activity.

Grade Reports

Grade reports are made available to students each mid-semester and at the end of each semester. Reports are issued only after students have cleared all bills

Mid-semester reports are given to students via their academic advisors (they should be able to view these online starting August 2023). They must be in good academic standing to have access. A copy of the grade report (at the end of the semester) may also be emailed. Unofficial grades will be posted on the instructor’s Google Classroom Platform.

*It is a student’s right to request access to their test grades (see General institutional guidelines).

In the case where the student wishes a third party to receive his/her grade report, written authorization from the student is required. Students who are being sponsored (or their sponsors) will need to present proof of commitment to the office for their reports to be released to them.

The College offers an installment plan for paying bills. Note that school reports and records will not be issued to students if they have outstanding bills at the institution or have not committed to the installment plan they agreed upon.

Grading Program

SCEJC will be introducing a new grading program as of August 2023. This program will be able to record students’ grades and attendance. Registered students will be able to access the system to view their grades and track their progress on an ongoing basis.

Training will be conducted during orientation and college seminar periods and students are advised to further their communication with their academic advisors for more information.

Grade Appeal

The instructor determines final grades (following school policy as stated on course outline). However, the student has a right to appeal a grade if he/she believes that the final grade is incorrect based on the grades he/she received during the semester and tabulated according to the grading procedures set out by the instructor in his/her course outline. Documentary proof must be provided.

In an appeal case the student is required to discuss the matter with the instructor (step one). If not satisfied, the student will engage the student support coordinator who will accompany the student in communicating with the teacher (step two). If still not satisfied, the student may appeal to the Dean in writing within 20 business days after grades are released using the official grade appeal form (step three).

Students are required to have all pertinent records (evidence – grades, pictures, videos, etc.).

The Dean will NOT entertain an appeal where documents are not provided for inspection (unless she finds obvious signs of inconsistency with the teachers’ records).

Students are encouraged to develop a method of documentation (saving of all important information/documents). They can document the dates of submission of assignment/tests to their teachers, they can use screenshots to document their submissions online, etc.

Late appeal will not be considered (with exceptions where administration clearly noted some inconsistency upon inspection).

No grade appeal will be honored for students who withdrew without formally informing the office (written) and without meeting their financial obligation to the institution and then later decide to return.

Students need to demonstrate knowledge of institutional policies and procedures (the general policies are stated on ALL course outlines). This document empowers students to identify inconsistencies and to deal with these timely and effectively.

Students are asked to submit a grievance form to the Dean if they feel (and can prove, citing the policy) that they have been treated/dealt with unfairly.

Transcripts

Transcripts are issued by the Secretary. Payment is made at the Bursar.

Official transcripts bear the seal of the College and are sent to the college or university of choice (or any other entity requesting the document). A Transcript is issued upon the payment of a $10.00 fee (regular work week), $15 (overnight), and $25 (express, international).

An official copy of a transcript will be mailed to a student outside of Belize for a fee of $20.00. Additional fees apply for postage.

Express transcripts must be applied for in the morning and may take at least 3 hours to be made available (this may be sooner if the office is not too busy).

All financial obligations to the Junior College must be cleared before a transcript is released.

Transcripts can also be emailed if the requesting university so desires. No additional fee is charged for emails. Students will need to provide the office with an official email address for the university (and who to address the email to where needed).

The official transcript cannot be copied.

Students are advised to order more than one transcript in advance to avoid long waits.

Transcript order forms are available on the institutional website and google drive. Students who wish for other persons to conduct their business at SCEJC will need to provide signed authorization letters.

All graduates of SCEJC will be given a transcript within a week after graduation. The rationale is to assist them in their application for study continuation or employment. Note that this is NOT a right… it is an act of love and concern shown to our graduates intended to allow them to move forward with little or no unnecessary drawback.

DEAN’S LIST

At the end of each semester, a dean’s list is published in recognition of outstanding students who have completed at least 15 credit hours and have a semester GPA of 3.0 or higher with no grade below C for that semester.

Honor roll students at the end of each year must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher with no grade below C.

Students who remain on honor roll throughout their stay at SCEJC will wear an honor roll cord during the graduation ceremony.

Graduation Requirements

All second-year students wishing to graduate must fill out an application for graduation by March (the exact date is shared during the first graduation practice in January or February). Deadline for payment of graduation fee is the second Friday in May.

A student shall qualify for an associate degree only if he/she has satisfied each of the following requirements. The student must have: a) earned a grade of at least 'C' in each of his/her major constituent course (professional and support); has an overall (cumulative) GPA of at least 2.00 on all courses used towards his/her degree; and ‘C’ in each of the English courses ENGL 111, ENGL 211 and ENGL 221 and at least a minimum pass (D) in INTM 101 or any other general education core subjects. b) attained a minimum of 72 credit hours (may be more depending on program requirement). This does NOT include remedial courses. c) completed satisfactory work in his/her curriculum as described in the academic bulletin in effect at the time he/she registered for the courses. d) fulfilled specialized departmental credit requirements. e) fulfilled all other obligations to the college prior to established deadlines. f) paid the appropriate graduation fee. g) completed at least 30 hours of community service. In addition, one hour of institutional service must be done each year at Ecumenical Junior College.

H) attended and participated in at least 5 of the college seminar sessions held on Tuesdays at 9:40 a.m. (and Thursdays or Fridays) on campus every semester (at least 20 within two years)

I) participated in at least one club or committee while enrolled.

Some aspects of the requirements may vary for the stand-alone programs.

Graduation Fees

Graduation fee will depend on whether the student intends to march up or to simply collect his/her degree. Kindly view the application for graduation form.

Community Service

All full-time students are required to complete a total of 30 hours community service off campus. Starting August 2021, this became 15 hours per school year. Each student is also required to complete on-campus community service (1 hour for each year enrolled at SCEJC). On-campus community service falls under the responsibility of the academic advisor.

Students must engage their academic advisors to ensure they perform services relevant to their area of study at the institution. Community service forms (to be completed by the employer) must be returned to the office signed by a qualified person representing a Non-Governmental Organization or a Community Based Organization. See link to the letter to the employer here.

Approval must be sought from administration if seeking to perform community service at a small business.

Completed community service forms must be submitted to the Assistant Dean’s office by the first week in May. Exact date will be communicated during graduation practice in January/February.

Students who do not meet the required number of college seminar attendance will need to perform additional community service on campus. The rationale here is that most employers pay very keen attention to attendance, participation, and volunteerism. Taking part in these cocurricular activities help to add quality to students’ curriculum vitae.

Awards At Graduation

The top three students from the graduating class are awarded a plaque during the graduation ceremony.

The top first year student is awarded a plaque and a first-year tuition or registration scholarship during the ceremony (effective June 2023, the Ministry no longer pays the full tuition fees of all second-year students in good academic standing). The institution will provide the larger of the two fees.

Other awards may be given to students for outstanding performances in areas such as sports, community participation, professional development training, and attendance, etc.

Academic Standing

A student is in good academic standing if he/she maintains a cumulative Grade Point Average of at least 2.00 and his/her current semester’s average is at least 2.00 with no failing grade.

A student who fails to attain a grade point average of at least 2.00 for any semester, or who fails any course and receives an academic warning, will be invited to attend an Early Alert (EA) meeting with the Dean and Student Support Coordinator. Any appeal by students who do not attend the EA meeting will NOT be honored.

A student who receives an academic warning is required to consult with his/her academic advisor. If a student fails the semester/year, he/she is placed on academic probation. They will be required to take less courses (three subjects maximum) and sign an agreement with the college.

A student who does not attain 2.0 (C) average the First Semester will take less courses (four subjects maximum) the second semester (less than 15 credits). They will be required to sign an agreement with the college.

A student who does not attain at least 2.00 (C) average during the period of academic probation will be required to withdraw from the full-time session.

Passing Grades

All major subjects MUST be passed with a C or above. All developmental subjects must be passed with C or above. All English subjects must be passed with C or above. If grades below C are attained for any of the subjects stated above, students will need to redo them. The original grade will remain on transcript, but the higher one will be factored into the computation of the cumulative GPA.

This also applies to program specific subjects whereby there is a need to pass one level to qualify to take the advanced level of a subject.

Class Attendance

Class attendance is regarded as an obligation as well as a privilege and all students are expected to attend all classes in which they are enrolled regularly and punctually. Failure to do so will jeopardize the student’s scholastic standing and may lead to dismissal from the College.

The equivalent of one week of unexcused absence from a particular course, whether consecutive or not, shall be deemed as grounds for dropping the student from the course. More information on class attendance is provided on the individual instructor’s course outline.

Student attendance online will be taken with the same vigor and carry the same expectations as face-to-face classes.

Students must call or email the office within the first day of extended absence. If the situation prevents them from being able to do so personally, they should have a family member call or drop by at the college.

Note that only texting a faculty member or a classmate to inform of absence is not considered official by the office.

Special Leave

Students called to duty or to represent the country are required to apply for special leave at least a week before such leave is taken. Students will be required to meet institutional requirements as stipulated on the special leave form. They will continue to part-take in class activities remotely.

More information is shared in SCEJC Distance Learning Policies and Procedures Manual.

Students must provide an invitation or a request letter from the sponsoring body. Note that SCEJC absence policy specified the number of days of absence without consequences. This will only be wavered if the sponsoring body and the student commit to ensuring that the student submits assignments on dates assigned.

Since SCEJC now has an online platform, students on leave will be required to remain updated with assignments (using the 24 hours institution mandated response cycle or an agreed upon response cycle between teacher and student – this must be approved by administration).

Student Classification

A credit or semester hour represents one session of class work or one laboratory session per week for a semester (15 weeks), together with the necessary out-of-class preparation.

A student's classification is determined upon registration and again at the end of each semester according to the number of credit hours earned.

A student is classified as first year if he/she has earned fewer than 36 credit hours and as second year if he/she has earned at least 36 credit hours including the major (s).

Students may also be classified as third or fourth year depending on the length of time that they remain at the college with 36 or more credits. For students to be classified as second, third or fourth year, they must pass their major(s) with a grade of C or more. A stricter definition looks at a student covering at least 50% of his/her course requirement.

Full time students must take a minimum of 15 credit hours per semester.

see information on Credit Load.

Overload

Only students with a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or above will be allowed to overload. They must apply and be approved through the Dean’s office.

No overload above 23 credits will be allowed at any one time.

The administrative office will not honor request for overload if it is due to failure in previous semesters.

Independent Study

For students to be allowed to take an independent course, they must fill out an Independent Study/Guided Study Contract and meet the following conditions:

(i) request is not as a result of failure or wanting to rush through the program.

(ii) the subject is needed by the student to meet course requirements but is not being offered the current semester or the student is fully employed and cannot attend normal classes.

(iii) the student has a GPA of 3.00 or above (some conditions apply).

(iv) meet with the faculty member and agree on dates of meetings and nature of the instruction. Evidence of agreement (signed by both faculty and the student) must be submitted to the Dean

(v) Payment must be made to bursar for independent/guided study courses before they are approved for offering to the requesting student.

Only a maximum of two subjects will be approved to be taken as independent or guided study by each student throughout his/her stay at SCEJC.

Distance Education And Online Learning

Varying forms of distance education have been offered at SCEJC since March 2020.

In August 2021, all students were required to conduct parts of their classes online.

As of January 2022, all classes are held face-to-face (except for full-time working students). An online platform (Google Classroom) is maintained to allow for accountability and to provide students with opportunity to revisit classroom information as frequently as possible.

As we move forward, students will soon be allowed to choose their dominant mode of learning (face to face, online, or blended) upon entering (some restrictions will apply). A readiness survey will be administered to students

It is part of the goal of SCEJC for all students to take at least one of their courses online during their enrollment at the college. Some restrictions will apply in going forward. Students MUST demonstrate evidence of preparedness for online learning (and advanced technology competence) for them to be approved to take all or most of their courses online.

Conditions for distance learning are articulated in the SCEJC Distance Education Policies and Procedures Manual

Request For Letter From The College

Students must be in good financial standing (do not owe) for the requests for letters from the institutions to be honored. This includes the request for letters to take to the embassy.

The only exception will be request for letters to send to lending institutions for financial assistance.

Junior College Guidelines

1. Students must be FULLY registered to legally be on the college campus, to attend classes, to participate in school trips and student union activities, and to receive any form of benefits and documents from the institution.

2. Students are expected to be in class on time. Additional information is provided on the individual lecturer’s course outline.

3. All assignments are due on the date assigned by the teacher. Additional information is provided on the individual lecturer’s course outline. Note - EJC general school policies are provided on all course outlines for quick reference.

4. If an instructor is not present at the beginning of class, students should report it to the office after waiting at least fifteen minutes.

5. No food/drink is allowed in class during the class period. Character building (practice of civic pride – e.g., cleanliness) starts with self-control and positive thinking. Garbage bins are placed all over the campus, except in the classrooms.

6. Cell phones are to be put on silent during class time (unless they are being used as a part of the lesson activity tools). No calls should be answered while in class. Emergency calls to students can be made through the administrative office. Students may request to be excused by the teacher to answer urgent calls (students, where possible, should inform teachers that they are expecting a call before class session).

7. Meetings or any business involving Junior College teachers/students, and which pertain to the College (derived in lieu of one’s position as a teacher or student at the college) are NOT to be carried out without permission from the Dean or Assistant Dean (in the absence of the Dean). Valid reasons must accompany requests. The business part includes selling on the institutional campus.

8. ALL monies raised at the college and in the name of the college must be deposited at the bursar for accountability.

9. Any work that an employee at the junior college engages in for profit where he/she uses the services of junior college students due to his/her position as an employee at the college must be reported to the administrative office as part of transparency, accountability, and protection of students in the institution’s care. The payment for service agreement between the employee and student does not need to be disclosed except if the student complains of injustice to administration.

10. Employees at the college are NOT to take advantage (physically or morally) of students - or their services - due to their position of authority over them in any form. These will be considered major offenses and will be dealt with as such.

11. The Board of Governors reserves the right to dismiss any student who engages in what the Board may deem as inappropriate and unacceptable behavior.

12. Students will be expected to adopt a dress code which is compatible with modesty and good taste. For example, no apparel considered undergarment should be visible at any time. Private parts should not be visible – these include navel, back, cleavage, thighs. Footwear is to be worn at all times while on campus. Students will be sent home to change upon first dress code offense. Any other offense by the same person will warrant suspension. More information is provided on dress code during orientation.

13. A pregnant student is required to provide the office with proper documentation on the date of confinement within the six months of conception. This is to help ensure her safety and that of the unborn child. It has been noted that some students hide their pregnancy and seek to engage in strenuous activities (e.g., sports, physical education) on campus. We want to discourage this. The student will need to provide the office, at six months and monthly thereafter, a written update (from a registered gynecologist/practitioner) on the progress of the pregnancy. The student will be allowed two weeks of excused absence and will be required to engage in online learning until fully cleared to return by a certified physician.

It is a student’s responsibility to catch up on work required during this time. In account of a risky pregnancy (certified), a student will be asked to withdraw from face-to-face learning for the semester in which delivery will occur. They can remain engaged online (if possible).

The policy on absence will apply to any case not reported to the office. In the case where delivery occurs during the short Christmas or Easter break and the student indicates an interest to return, she will need to bring a document from her physician indicating that she is medically fit to return to class.

14. Pregnant students are advised to postpone taking physical education. These students should visit the Dean’s office or inform their academic advisors.

15. Smoking is not allowed anywhere on campus.

16. The use of alcohol is not permitted on campus and school related activities (e.g., trips). Students found under the influence of alcohol on campus and in class will be sent home and disciplinary actions will be taken against them.

17. It is illegal to possess and to use drugs (unprescribed) on campus and any student caught in possession of or using drugs will be reported to the police and may be expelled.

18. The college expects of its students a high degree of integrity in all phases of school life, especially where a student evaluation is concerned. Any student caught cheating in any test or examination will receive an “F” for the course and may be expelled from the College. It is a serious offense for students to have other people doing their work or taking their test in the online environment. Honesty is a virtue, and we do NOT want students to practice such deceit and transition into the society dishonestly.

19. It is an offense to tamper with or to seek to alter any faculty’s platform layout or institutional online systems. Such an act is considered devious and is considered a form of academic dishonesty at SCEJC and will carry the penalty of suspension or expulsion from the College.

20. Stealing is a criminal offense. The case may be handed over to the police and the student caught stealing will be asked to leave the campus and may be expelled from the College.

21. Students with proven mental/health or drug issues will be required to seek professional help. The institution will assist in making contacts where such a case is reported or known. Students will be required to provide evidence of meetings and improvements to the office of the Dean on an ongoing basis (negotiated frequency). Where the student or family refuses the recommendation for treatment, the disciplinary committee of the Board will take on the matter and the student may be asked to withdraw from the college.

22. Bullying (including cyber bullying) and sexual harassment of any kind are NOT tolerated at the college. Students found engaging in such behaviors will be brought before the disciplinary committee and may be expelled from the college.

23. Students are expected to be excellent stewards of school property. Students caught or reported to be vandalizing school property may be asked to withdraw and/or charged for damage to property. Damages due to students sitting on tables and desks or misusing them are included. It is expected that junior college students will demonstrate an advanced level of maturity and responsible behavior.

24. Students MUST sign a binding contract for ALL overnight trips. Those below the age of 18 must also receive permission from their parents or guardian.

25. Students are expected to conduct themselves at all times in a manner that reflects their commitment to a life of excellence and responsibility.

It is a student’s responsibility to read ALL institutional guidelines, policies, and procedure documents pertaining to them (and expectations of them) at the college. Failure to act properly due to lack of knowledge of the institutional guidelines, policies, and procedures is NO excuse.

Personal Conduct

Discipline

The Stann Creek Ecumenical Junior College holds the view that students who attend the College will exhibit a high degree of maturity. Thus, the College expects that each student will respect the rights and privileges of others and will conduct himself/herself in a manner that is compatible with expected standards of personal conduct in institutions such as ours.

It is also expected that junior college level students will portray a high level of maturity whereby basic training and discipline will not be necessary to enforce at the institution. Evidence of such should include dressing modestly, knowing that sitting on table is impolite, that throwing trash on campus is nasty, flairs of emotions and loud outbursts demonstrate coarseness and childishness, engaging in or promoting hearsay destroys trust and integrity, and that the utterance of foul language has no place in a professional space, among others.

It is the responsibility of the student to familiarize himself/herself with the rules and regulations of the College governing student conduct and activities. Conduct inconsistent with prescribed rules and regulations will result in the student being sent off campus until the matter can be reviewed and disciplinary action determined. In the limit, this may lead to dismissal from the College.

Academic Dishonesty

Any form of academic dishonesty is considered an extremely serious offense. This includes attempts to tamper with institutional databases.

Aiding and abetting a student in academic dishonesty is equally serious and will lead to an “F” for the course and severe disciplinary action.

Where a student receives a letter ordering more than 3 consecutive days of suspension, he/she may appeal the decision in writing to the Chairperson of the Board of Governors within one week (5 school days). The Dean will subsequently appoint a committee to hear the student’s case. This committee may consist of all or some of the following: a member of the Board, Administration, Regional Council, Student President, and Staff Representative. After considering the committee report, the Chairperson will inform the student of the result as soon as possible.

Grievance Reporting

Students will be required to report grievances (against student, staff, faculty or Admin) following the template provided. The grievance form must be submitted to the Dean or Assistant Dean within two days of the suspected problem. In certain cases, to be determined by the Dean, the student may bring along one witness to speak on his/her behalf.

The Dean may request the presence of the academic advisor and/or student support personnel to a meeting with the student. In cases where the offense is grave, the disciplinary committee of the Board will be activated to deal with the matter.

Student Services

LIBRARY/RESOURCE CENTER

Ecumenical Junior College houses a wide collection of books, journals, and magazines for research purposes. The reserved reading section of the library houses specialized texts and materials. Students are required to use their school identification card (ID) to access library services. The library is undergoing a transition into an institutional resource center.

Students are given a username and a password during orientation that will allow them to access elibrary via EBSCO.

Students have access to WiFi and free printing (50 maximum per semester, only 10 sheets by the same person can be printed a day). Anything printing after the maximum has been reached will incur a cost.

ACADEMIC ADVISING/COUNSELING

Academic advising at the College is intended to aid in the integration of students into college life and to ensure ongoing support to encourage students’ persistence in college up to completion.

Academic advising begins from the first orientation. Each academic department has its own counseling services (first responder) to which any student in the department can come for advice. Furthermore, each student shall be assigned a program/academic advisor who will be available to provide continuing guidance and support to the student (students can access this service during the office hours of the advisor or at other times agreed upon by both parties).

Academic advisors ought to avail themselves during their office hours for advising. Students are advised to take keen note of this. Advisors are instrumental in guiding students in areas of course selection, registration, and seeking financial or academic assistance. A copy of the advising manual can be accessed here.

Mid-semester reports are distributed to students via their academic advisors. This provides an opportunity for more dialogue between student and advisor.

Referrals to professional counselors will be made of cases that surpass the expertise on campus, including that of the student support personnel.

Although academic advisors are appointed to assist students in their ongoing college engagements, it is the student’s prime responsibility to read all institutional policy documents, honor them, and ensure he/she fulfills all academic and co-curricular requirements.

Student Support System

A new department was added in 2018 to exclusively support students’ activities on campus and during online learning. This department assists with counseling, tutoring, student campus life, career planning, seeking financial aid, among others.

SSS Vision:

Working together with stakeholders, educators, parents, alumni, and community, each graduating student will have the knowledge, skills and tools necessary to have the future he/she desires.

SSS Mission:

The Student Support System (SSS) of Ecumenical Junior College (EJC) creates meaningful, individualized educational plans to maximize students’ potential. It’s also dedicated to providing services and support to help define, develop and have all students achieve their academic and life goals.

An SSS handbook is available on the institutional website and Google Drive.

Students should NOT seek to use this venue to escape institutional or program responsibilities. Students are bonded to all institutional policies/guidelines and rules once they submit their application forms, are accepted, and enrolled at the college

Students will be required to cite policies/guidelines/rules that are being violated when they visit the SSS coordinator. A report must be taken of the meeting by the SSS coordinator, signed by both parties, and shared with the Dean for record keeping.

Any act of deception will be dealt with severely. Lying, in any form, is an offense at Ecumenical Junior College and will be dealt with severely.

Student Union

Students need to familiarize themselves with the student union constitution and by- laws. Nomination is done in September and elections are held in October.

Elected members must present the Dean with a calendar of events within two weeks of their installment. This MUST be done before requests are made by the SU to Dean for the approval of finance for their activities. See link to some suggested SU activities.

The money available to the executive will be based on finance collected in SU fees upon registration. It is expected that the SU executive body will seek community assistance for community engagements (in collaboration with the student support coordinator) and find creative ways to fundraise for ongoing activities on campus.

The student body is also expected to contribute to their social engagements in school-related activities. Feeling of entitlement will not be promoted. We support the saying that with rights comes responsibility.

Part of the expected takeaway from being a member of the SU is situational leadership, ability to remain calm and effective in chaotic moments, and financial literacy skills.

It is required that elected members maintain the following character dispositions at ALL times: positive attitude, respect, responsibility, self-control, kindness, honesty, and fairness.

They also are required to uphold the institutional vision, mission, and core values.

Only second year students can hold the post of president.

Bookstore

Any course recommended texts should be available at the Bursar’s Office to be purchased. Students are expected to have all their required books/booklets by the second week of classes.

The use of Open Textbooks (OpenStax) will be piloted this school year for some courses, especially those where purchasing textbooks is inhibitive due to cost or they are not readily available even through negotiations with bookstores.

Houses

Students are divided into four houses for intramural sports. The houses are Mahogany, Orchid, Tapir, and Toucan. Students are expected to partake in co-curricular activities.

An annual Field’s Day is held in April to decide the champion. The approval for field’s day is not automatic. Students will need to show ongoing sporting activities and house competitions throughout the school year.

Sports

As of August 2023, sports will be institutionalized at SCEJC. Students will be required to view sports as an integral part of their experience at the college that can lead to further opportunities both nationally and internationally. More information will be provided in the SCEJC Athletic Handbook.

A relathon will be held in November of the first semester at the College (August to December) to help secure funds for ongoing improvements in students’ co-curricular engagements, sporting activities, and sport capacity at SCEJC.

This is a school-wide event that seeks to engage the wider community. Students are required to seek community sponsorship for this very important event.

Ejc Online

Has been launched. All students are issued an institution-based email address. The official platform used for teaching is Google Classroom. The alternative platform used is Moodle (mostly for education students).

Each faculty member is required to complement their face-to-face class sessions using Google Classroom hereafter. Moodle is also an option especially for education students who will need to use it during clinical supervision.

RENTAL & PURCHASE

Lab coats (Science) and Chef aprons and caps (Tourism) are available for rent. Lockers are also available for rent by semesters. Blood pressure monitors are available for sale.

School memorabilia will soon be available for sale soon at the student support office.

PRE-REQUISITES

When a student enters the College, he/she should be academically capable of completing the courses that he/she undertakes. There are set prerequisites for some courses. The pre-requisites are academic qualifications that the student must have before he/she can embark on a course It is a student’s responsibility to make sure he/she takes the required prerequisite courses for his/her subject area - as indicated on his/her individual program plan – and pass them.

The grades for students who fail to follow the correct sequence of their courses will not be honored.

Pre-college courses are offered during the summer. Stay tuned for new changes in offering.

SCEJC is planning to introduce “dual enrollment” for developmental courses.

General Entry Requirements

As well as course-specific prerequisites, every student should have: a) successfully completed high school. b) Grades I – III CSEC English A and CSEC Mathematics. c) took the Association of Tertiary Level Institution of Belize (ATLIB) Placement Test. d) Grades I – III pass in CSEC in their desired major courses.

Students who did not sit or pass the ATLIB exams may need to start with developmental courses upon enrollment.

Evening Division

Stann Creek Ecumenical Junior College Evening Division is intended for adult students who wish to pursue an Associate Degree or who want to take classes for personal enrichment or professional advancement.

Generally, four courses or twelve credit hours per semester are offered, and students can complete the program within three to six years from the time they began.

Students are expected to take a maximum of four courses per semester. The number of subjects was increased to four starting at the beginning of the school year 2022-2023.

Associate Degree In General Studies

September 2022 – the regular program offerings will start with the GECs. Majors for specific programs will start when a minimum of 15 persons are registered.

Specific requirements may vary based on major. Some majors may require specific support-core subjects. We will include a Summer 4 for students who will need this.

EDUCATION PROGRAM SEQUENCE (AAPE and CPE)

*The Certificate in Primary Education and Early Childhood Education will no longer be offered from and after January 2023.

Transfer Credits

Transfer credits for students to the Evening Studies program are evaluated for acceptance towards the Associate Degree after admission decision. Generally, college-level (Junior College or University work) completed within four years prior to the year of admission and in which students earned a grade of C (2.00) or higher will be considered for transfer credit. However, the student must complete the requirements for the Associate Degree within six years.

Transient Student

Members of the public/community who are not enrolled at SCEJC may take courses at the college as transient students. This can be done for self-enrichment purposes or as professional development requirements for a job. Approval must be received from the Dean.

A transient student is not a fully enrolled student at SCEJC. To become fully enrolled, such a student will need to pay all required registration fees.

Transient students can enroll for at least two subjects each semester once the required prerequisites are met. Their enrollment is dependent on the availability of space. They will pay in FULL the supplementary registration fee and the tuition cost at $30 per credit hour.

CERTIFICATE IN SCHOOL LEADERS PROGRAM (CSLP)

This course is offered to primary school leaders, aspiring leaders, and managers. The minimum matriculation requirement is a high school and possession of a FULL license. The CSLP comprises of 5 courses (50 points each):

Course One – School Leadership in Belize

Course Two – Leadership for Change

Course Three – Leadership for School Improvement Planning

Course Four – Leading Teachers

Course Five – Stewardship of Schools

Capstone (50 points)

OTHER CERTIFICATION COURSES DURING THE EVENING OR ONLINE WILL BE ANNOUNCED LATER

Associate Degree Programs

A student shall enter one of the programs outlined below. There are four official departments at the College: Education, Business, Arts/General Studies, and Science.

The students in Science, Arts, and Business choose two majors.

LIST OF PROGRAMS OFFERED AT SCEJC

● Science (two majors)

● Business (two majors)

● Business/Science (two majors)

● Arts (two majors)

● Arts/ Science (two majors)

● General Studies (one major only)

● Health Studies (stand-alone)

● Tourism and Hospitality Management (stand-alone)

● Primary Education (stand-alone)

● Early Childhood Education (stand-alone)

See link to access the individual program plans.

Institutional brochures and flyers will be made available to students via the institutional online communication platforms.

Students must successfully complete the courses listed as Professional & Support Core with at least a C. These constitute the major courses of the individual program.

More details on these courses can be found in the course description section.

Specific subject/course requirements by programs are indicated on the individual students’ program plan (issued with acceptance letter, upon registration or during orientation).

GENERAL EDUCATION CORE (GEC)

In addition to the professional core in each program, each student must pass the following (or their equivalent) as a part of a general core

The student may also choose to take courses offered at the college which are not in his/her major area of study (as long as he/she satisfies the course prerequisites). These are known as electives. These serve to broaden the education of the student and to increase the number of credit hours he/she attains.

It is very important that students follow their individual program plans as presented.

A student will be considered as ‘met program requirement’ when all courses have been attempted and passed according to the school’s grading policy.

Subjects that can be used as electives include:

*Links to additional institutional forms and the institutional calendar will be shared with students during the orientation period.

*Course descriptions will be provided as another document shortly. These are being updated and should be available soon.

Each department, within the umbrella of the institutional vision, mission, and goals, has its program-specific vision, mission, and goals. Each course within the departments also has specific performance indicators. These are made known to students during the review of the course outlines in individual classes.

DEPARTMENT SPECIFIC VISION, MISSION, AND GOALS

ARTS/GENERAL STUDIES

Vision

To empower students for a world that is constantly changing by inspiring them to think critically, and to instill in them a respect for fundamental principles.

Mission

The Arts and General Studies Department endeavors to provide students with the best possible educational opportunities that will equip them with the necessary foundational skills in comprehension, analytical thinking, speaking, and writing. Moreover, the department seeks to provide students with experiences that would prepare them for life and its challenges as well as to access the opportunities available to meet the needs of the communities of southern Belize.

Department Goals

1. To empower students to become effective communicators and critical thinkers.

2. To engage students in community service activities that seek to strengthen EJC’s presence and impact on the wider community.

3. To optimize students' learning potential by embracing the use of technological platforms.

Department Vision:

Business

To holistically develop our students into being resilient, lifelong learners, with the skills necessary to transition to undergraduate education or career engagement.

Department Mission:

To bring innovation, and relevance to the business program, by stimulating and equipping our students with skills to meet both the academic and career demands of this century.

Goals

To organize a Meet and Greet/ Social with Business Tourism students. To review transfer of credits to University of Belize

To organize stakeholders meeting

To review the business/tourism program to ensure relevance and better meet the needs of stakeholders.

To conduct a follow up consultation with stakeholders on the proposed to changes to the program base on the input from the first stakeholders meeting To engage students in a monthly Business Department seminar. To provide a job readiness workshop for students.

Education Vision

Build a culture of excellence, community-mindedness, support for progress and growth, and care for others in partnership with all stakeholders in education.

Mission

The Education Department, in partnership with its immediate community and all stakeholders, has tasked itself to develop a strong educational foundation in its students. The department diligently imparts relevant knowledge and models sound practices. Student-teachers are expected to translate this into the classroom and demonstrate morally sound and socially empowered behaviors in their actions.

GOALS.

1. To provide relevant education to student teachers (early childhood, primary education, certificate in education, school leaders).

2. To provide an educational experience that will foster effective teaching and deep learning.

3. To instill within student teachers the love of community, dedication to service, and an appreciation of the different cultures within Belize.

4. Liaise with stakeholders to improve the quality of education and school leadership within our community, district, and country.

Science

VISION:

To develop scientifically literate and skilled students capable of applying basic scientific principles to the survival of oneself and meet the demands of the workforce.

MISSION:

Expose students to practical science applications as well as theoretical principles, through collaboration with relevant science-oriented educational organizations, that will provide the basis for them to become well oriented science students upon completion.

GOALS:

To develop scientifically oriented students.

To prepare students to be able to conduct scientific research within their field of study.

To prepare students for employment within the science field with basic preparation skills required for the workforce.

To prepare students for transitioning into higher education.

To establish a network with key stakeholders in order to provide practical experience and exposure to students.

STANN CREEK ECUMENICAL JUNIOR COLLEGE BOARD OF GOVERNORS, ADMINISTRATION, FACULTY AND STAFF

Board of Governors

Mr. Jerris Valentine Jr - Municipal Government Representative, Chairperson

Mr. Emogenez Leiva - Business Representative, Vice Chairperson

Mr. John Levy - Community Representative, Treasurer

Dr. Karen Martinez - Dean, Secretary, ex-officio

Dr. Tanya Nunez - Ministry of Education Representative

Mr. Ray Lawrence - Feeder School

Mr. David Cruz - Alumni Representative

Ms. Victoria Pixabaj - Staff representative

Mr. Ivor Zuniga - Student Union President

Administrators

Dr. Karen Martinez- Dean Ed. D. Higher Education

Mr. Arnold van Stuivenberg - Assistant Dean M.Sc. Mathematics

Faculty

Education Department

Subject (s) teaching

Mrs. Rachel Velasquez (HOD) Primary Education

Mr. Floyd Lino

Mrs. Francine Jones

Arts/GS Department

Primary Education

Primary Education

Mrs. Desiree Morgan (HOD) English,(GEC)

Mrs. Denise Henry English, Sociology

Mr., Adrian Martinez English, GEC

Mr. Esteban Coy Spanish

Ms. Ifasina Efunyemi GECs subjects

Mr. Frank Mena Sociology, GEC

Business Department

Ms. Florence Cayetano (HOD) Economics, GEC

Mrs. Rachel Gongora Accounting, BSMN

Mr. Josue Esquivel Tourism & Hospitality

Ms. Tiresie Lino TOHM, Economics

Science Department

Ms. Sharon Enriquez (HOD) Biology, Env. Science

Mr. Pedro Pixabaj Computer Science

Ms. Victoria Pixabaj Mathematics

Mr. Ewart Gordon Science subjects

Student Support System

Ms. Aretha Flores SSS Coordinator

Ancillary Staff

Ms. Serita Valerio Secretary

Ms. Christine Cacho Bursar

Mr. Keith Tillett, A.A Librarian

Ms. Linette Martinez Administrative Assistant

Mr. Michael Montero Janitor/Yardman

Mr. Nigel Castillo Groundskeeper

Ms. Carla Avila Caretaker

Mr. Erwin McDougall Day security

Mr. Albert Flores Watchman

Mr. Vance Flores Watchman

Mr. Edward Nicasio I.T Technician