A significant misunderstanding regarding credit transfers continues to affect students at Sacred Heart Junior College seeking to advance their education at the University of Belize. This confusion stems from a 2023 agreement that many students misinterpreted as guaranteeing seamless credit transfers between the institutions.
University officials have clarified that the memorandum of agreement signed in 2023 was specifically designed to facilitate the University of Belize offering bachelor’s degree programs on the Sacred Heart campus, particularly focusing on business administration programs for students in western regions. The agreement did not establish any automatic credit transfer system between the two institutions.
Dr. Bernard Watler, Dean of the Faculty of Management & Social Sciences at the University of Belize, explained the current evaluation process: “When students have completed courses or earned associate degrees at Sacred Heart Junior College, their credits undergo rigorous individual assessment on a course-by-course basis. This evaluation is conducted by qualified faculty members to ensure students possess the necessary prerequisites for bachelor-level studies.”
The current framework requires Sacred Heart graduates to have each course individually evaluated, with only those meeting UB’s academic standards being accepted for transfer. Courses deemed insufficient in preparation require retaking at the University of Belize before students can advance to higher-level coursework.
University representatives emphasize that this selective transfer process maintains academic standards and ensures student readiness for advanced studies. Meanwhile, both institutions continue developing a more comprehensive transfer framework to address the ongoing concerns of students facing educational pathway uncertainties.