Kent State University recently marked a milestone with the ninth commencement ceremony of its American Academy program in Brazil. Twenty students took part in the event, celebrating their completion of the program. The dual-enrollment initiative, launched in July 2018, is a collaboration between Kent State and the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná (PUCPR) in Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
The American Academy offers Brazilian students a chance to complete their first two years of undergraduate study at the PUCPR campus while taking Kent State classes taught in English by Kent State faculty. Students earn credit from both universities simultaneously.
The program uses a four-semester liberal arts curriculum, with new student intake each semester. Unlike traditional Brazilian universities, which admit students directly into specific majors, the American Academy allows students to explore different fields for two years.
Graduates earn a Kent State associate of science degree and can then finish their bachelor's degree at Kent State's main campus in Ohio or at PUCPR in Brazil. They may receive a degree from either university or both.
Kent State President Todd Diacon addressed the graduates: "If you continue at PUCPR, I wish you the best. If you are moving to Kent, Ohio, I look forward to welcoming you, seeing you on campus, and I especially look forward to celebrating your graduation with your bachelor's degree two years from now."
The program offers advantages for students transitioning to Kent State, including familiarity with U.S. teaching styles and support from Brazilian peers.
The American Academy aims to provide a smooth path to U.S. education for Brazilian students through its liberal arts curriculum and academic advising.