Jump to content

Stella Maris Polytechnic University

Coordinates:6°17′52″N10°47′38″W/ 6.2978°N 10.7939°W/6.2978; -10.7939
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Stella Maris Polytechnic University
School logo
MottoLatin:Sapientia, Eruditio et Scientiae ad Officium
Motto in English
"Wisdom, Knowledge & Skills for Service"
TypePrivate
Established1988;36 years ago(1988)
Religious affiliation
Catholic
ChancellorLewis Jerome Zeigler
PresidentRosaline Y. T. Doe (acting)
Students2,308 (2021)
Location,
Liberia

6°17′52″N10°47′38″W/ 6.2978°N 10.7939°W/6.2978; -10.7939
CampusUrban
AffiliationsAssociation of African Universities
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Monrovia
Websitesmpu.edu.lr

Stella Maris Polytechnic University (SMPU)is a private university inMonrovia,Liberia. Founded in 1988, the school is owned and operated by theRoman Catholic Archdiocese of Monrovia.Located on Capitol Hill, the school has approximately 2,300 students. The school is recognized by Liberia's National Commission on Higher Education as an approved baccalaureate granting school of higher learning,[1]and is a member of theAssociation of African Universities.[2]

History[edit]

The school traces its history back to theArthur BarclayVocational Institute that had its roots in a donation of land to the church in 1972.[3]Eventually the planned school was renamed as the Arthur Barclay Technical Institute and first held classes in February 1979.[3]Catholic leaders then considered starting a Catholic college beginning in 1985, which eventually led to the establishment ofDon BoscoPolytechnic.[3]That school included Arthur Barclay Technical Institute which then became the Arthur Barclay Technical Institute.[3]

The larger institution was chartered by theLiberian Legislatureon August 15, 1988.[3]Due tocivil strifein the country, Don Bosco did not begin operating until 1993 when the Mother Patern College of Health Sciences opened.[3]Then in January 1997 the school's board resolved to open the larger institution, which occurred in November of that year.[3]Don Bosco Polytechnic was then renamed as Stella Maris Polytechnic in 2005.[3]

In May 2007, Ireland's troops serving as part of theUnited Nations Mission in Liberiadonated 21 computers as well as a large container of books to the SMP.[4]As of 2009, the school had 2,090 students enrolled.[1]Of those, 1,324 were men and 766 were women.[1]In May 2010, the school'sdebate teamwon IBI International's inter-collegiate debate competition for Liberia.[5]SMP beat out a total of six other schools, includingAfrican Methodist Episcopal Universityin the final round.[5]In May 2011, SMP students prevented classes from being held in protest of a proposed tuition hike from US$5 to $7 per credit, as well as a proposed exit examination that would be required to graduate.[6]

References[edit]

Entry sign, on back road to University of Liberia Capitol Hill Campus
  1. ^abcKwanue, C.Y. (February 7, 2010)."Faculty at Liberia's 9 Universities, Colleges Numbers 1,137".Daily Observer.RetrievedJune 27,2011.
  2. ^"Member Details: Stella Maris Polytechnic".Membership.Association of African Universities. Archived fromthe originalon 16 December 2013.Retrieved29 June2011.
  3. ^abcdefgh"History of Stella Maris Polytechnic".About SMP.Stella Maris Polytechnic. Archived fromthe originalon 14 May 2018.Retrieved29 June2011.
  4. ^"Irish Contingent Gives Stella Maris Polytechnic".The Inquirer.29 May 2007.Retrieved29 June2011.
  5. ^abWolokolie, Alva Mulbah (May 11, 2010)."Stella Maris Wins IBI Inter-Collegiate Debate".Daily Oberserver.Archived fromthe originalon 18 October 2016.Retrieved28 June2011.
  6. ^"Stella Maris Polytechnic Students Vow More Protest Against Fees' Hike".New Democrat.18 May 2011.Retrieved29 June2011.

External links[edit]