Program Provides Students with Pathways to SLU and Fontbonne
Saint Louis University and Fontbonne University — the St. Louis area’s two Catholic universities — have announced an innovative new partnership to foster college success.
The Archway Catholic Partners in Education program will identify first-year applicants to SLU who are likely to be successful at SLU after completing a foundation in general education at Fontbonne.
The initiative, which will begin enrolling students as early as this fall, will require students to meet specific academic program transfer admission criteria before transitioning to SLU to complete their studies.
“This program creates a new pathway to a SLU education for talented students,” said Kathleen Davis, vice president for enrollment and retention management at Saint Louis University. “We are excited to partner with Fontbonne on this unique initiative for students.”
“Fontbonne’s strength lies in our ability to provide a high-touch, caring, personalized, nurturing environment to support our students in a small community setting,” said Quinton Clay, vice president for enrollment management and marketing at Fontbonne University. “We have extensive experience supporting driven students with tailored support to meet a wide range of needs, and I think that’s what makes this program an unparalleled opportunity.”
To form a community of scholars, Archway Catholic Partners in Education participants will meet regularly while at Fontbonne and will have access to some SLU resources, including its library. Fontbonne’s academic advisers will guide and support students toward the transition to SLU from the first days of enrollment.
“This partnership will increase access to Catholic education in the St. Louis region,” Clay said.
Davis added: “Since Archway Catholic Partners in Education students could come from around the country and world, the entire St. Louis area will benefit from this new agreement.”
About Saint Louis University
Founded in 1818, Saint Louis University is one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious Catholic institutions. Rooted in Jesuit values and its pioneering history as the first university west of the Mississippi River, SLU offers more than 12,000 students a rigorous, transformative education of the whole person. At the core of the University’s diverse community of scholars is SLU’s service-focused mission, which challenges and prepares students to make the world a better, more just place.
About Fontbonne University
Founded in 1923 by the Catholic Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, Fontbonne has remained committed to the common good through the daily pursuit of transformative education, “loving unity” and serving others without distinction. With just under 1,200 students, Fontbonne delivers more than 120 diverse and rigorous academic programs with a holistic approach and individualized support in order to inspire students to become global citizens who think critically, act ethically and serve responsibly.