Peters promotes ACSSJ Exchange

As this year brings about new changes and certainly new faces, a special visitor came to campus for a retreat. Sister Sean Peters, a member of the Association of Colleges of Sisters of Saint Joseph (ACSSJ), was on campus in mid-September. Her reason for visiting was the retreat, but she also wanted to spread the news of the Student Exchange Program of the ACSSJ.

Sister Sean Peters holds her office in Albany, NY at The College of Saint Rose. She has been all over the country in the past 2 years visiting college campuses. Many students do not know that Avila is a member of the ACSSJ. To be a member of this group, the college or university had to be founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph.

ACSSJ works with the 7 institutions that belong to the group to uphold the characteristics that the Sisters of St. Joseph founded the institutions on. This retreat was focused on Avila University moving into the future and building on the values and standards that Avila already holds.

"I enjoy visiting Avila so much because I know and I see that the faculty and staff here are so committed to the success of the students," Sister Sean Peters said. "You just don't see that at big state universities."

ACSSJ makes sure that characteristic is seen throughout their 7 institutions.

Sister Sean Peters is a positive woman with a great attitude toward education but she has been disappointed in the Student Exchange Program for the past few years. This program allows students from any of the 7 institutions to travel to another ACSSJ institution for up to 2 semesters. That means that a student from Avila can travel to Boston, MA, Los Angeles, CA or even Albany, NY for up to 2 semesters.

Although it's not exactly traveling abroad, this program is an opportunity to experience school in another state and a different climate. The best part about this program is that tuition continues at the student's home-based school and financial aid still applies. The only change in financial status will be room and board.

Taking classes that are not offered at the home-base school transfer back as full credit and count toward graduation hours.

"Up to 10 students may attend a particular institution per semester," Sister Sean Peters said. "Last year we only had 7 or 8 students for the entire year, and we want this program to impact more students."

There is a deadline for application per semester for students who are interested in participating. Visit the Registrar's office for more information. Deadline for spring semester is November 10.