Centenary College and Up With People sign partnership for cross-cultural study
SHREVEPORT, LA — Current cast members of the multi-national touring group Up With People (UWP) arrived on the Centenary College campus Monday, September 23, and a new relationship between the College and UWP may soon bring some UWP members back for a longer stay. A partnership agreement to facilitate unique educational and cultural experiences for both Centenary students and UWP cast members was signed during a special ceremony held Monday afternoon in Centenary’s Kilpatrick Auditorium.
Under the agreement, Up with People will accept all Centenary applicants who meet the UWP admissions criteria and successfully complete the UWP application process. Students will have the opportunity to earn college credit while completing a semester-long international learning experience through UWP. Centenary will reciprocate by accepting all UWP participants who meet College’s admission criteria and complete all elements of the admission process. UWP students at Centenary can earn up to 12 elective credits per semester as part of the new program.
Both Centenary and UWP have also agreed to actively promote the partnership to prospective participants and students and to coordinate these efforts through a regular schedule of campus visits and frequent communication between key staff members.
Centenary president Dr. Christopher L. Holoman welcomed the UWP cast to the signing ceremony Monday along with Centenary students, faculty, staff, and community members. Up With People CEO Dale Penny participated via teleconference from UWP headquarters in Denver, Colorado, and cast manager Alicen Schade signed the agreement on behalf of UWP.
“Everything UWP does throughout the world is partnerships – that’s what we’re built on,” said Penny. “We’re always looking to partner with educational institutions like Centenary that reflect our values of inclusion, diversity, and respect for everybody. Diversity is not a barrier to overcome; it is a foundation to build a more common future. There is strength in diversity and inclusion, rather than a challenge.”
During the signing ceremony, Holoman expressed his excitement at having UWP at Centenary and praised Dean of Students Mark Miller, an UWP alumnus, for his initiative in arranging the group’s visit to Shreveport and spearheading the process resulting in the new partnership.
“My scholarly field is international relations, so this is something that I’m passionate about,” said Holoman. “I’m also a big believer in partnerships, because partnerships help schools like Centenary provide so many opportunities for our students. Thanks to recent partnerships, Centenary students have access to outstanding law, nursing, and pharmacy programs, and now to an incredible cross-cultural experience through Up With People.”
For more on UWP’s activities at Centenary this week and information about the UWP show on Saturday, September 28, visit centenary.edu/diversityweek.