College Launches First Ever Joint Enrollment Partnership with Preparatory School in St. Maarten

In a historic moment, the College of Coastal Georgia and Learning Unlimited Preparatory School of St. Maarten signed a memorandum of understanding that will allow students at Learning Unlimited to participate in joint enrollment at the College. Students from Learning Unlimited will soon take online courses, such as introduction to business, abnormal psychology, medical terminology, and biology.

“I am incredibly proud that together, we have launched the first and only joint enrollment partnership between a United States college and a Caribbean school,” College of Coastal Georgia President Dr. Michelle Johnston said.

(Left to right) Dr. Ebbie Parsons, co-founder and managing partner of Yardstick Management, Head of School for Learning Unlimted Preparatory School Amissa President, College of Coastal Georgia President Dr. Michelle Johnston, and Vice President of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management Dr. Jason Umfress sign a memorandum of understanding allowing Learning Unlimited students to take college courses.

Learning Unlimited Preparatory School was established in 1990 in St. Maarten. It was founded on the principle of developing each student’s potential to the fullest within a safe, positive, and academically challenging environment. Learning Unlimited is comprised of a toddler academy, junior academy (preschool, pre-k, and kindergarten), elementary school, middle school, and upper school. Head of School for Learning Unlimited Preparatory School Amissa President, visited the College campus along with students and family members to sign the agreement and celebrate the new partnership.

Dr. Jason Umfress, Vice President of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management, was excited about the momentum the program will gain and the opportunities it will provide for growth at the College. He was especially eager about the educational futures of Learning Unlimited students.

“We know that a quality Coastal Georgia education translates no matter the distance. We’re excited that our campus just got a little bit bigger, and our world just got a little bit smaller as we add these intelligent and talented Caribbean students to our Mariner family,” Umfress said.

Johnston talked about the hard work and collaboration involved on the part of both institutions to make the partnership possible, and how she was happy to connect with President. Johnston knew they would be great partners because of President’s “unwavering personal drive.”

“Her passion is to provide her students with educational opportunities that challenge them with rigor and that prepare them for bright futures. That commitment sounds familiar to us at the College of Coastal Georgia. So, not only are our institutions aligned in that mission, our institutions are aligned at the heart,” Johnston said. “For the College of Coastal Georgia, this collaboration reaffirms our dedication to providing innovative, educational pathways that empower students to achieve the very best version of themselves.”

Johnston believes that extending the College’s reach beyond its borders enriches not only the academic experience for the campus community, but also fosters a commitment to cultural exchange and global citizenship.

President said the partnership marks a significant milestone in their commitment to providing educational opportunities for students at Learning Unlimited.

“For the last five years, we have been diligently working toward establishing a partnership with a college for a dual enrollment program. Today, I am thrilled that our efforts have come to fruition with this collaboration with the College of Coastal Georgia,” President said. “The College of Coastal Georgia is renowned for its commitment to academic rigor, student success, and community engagement. By partnering with such an esteemed institution, we are providing our students with access to world-class education and professional resources. Together, we will share the future of education and create pathways for our students to achieve their full potential.”

Dr. Ebbie Parsons, founder of Yardstick Management, first introduced Johnston and President to each other. Parsons shared that he also has a child enrolled at Learning Unlimited.

“Extending this introduction was simple because it involved two phenomenal organizations committed to continuing the greatness of students in life and beyond,” Parsons said. “I hope everyone understands the global magnitude of what just happened today. This is the first ever partnership between the Caribbean and an accredited United States institution for dual enrollment. Students will have an opportunity to graduate from high school with an associate’s degree from the College of Coastal Georgia. This is significant and can impact the entire region—an entire global region of the world.”

Johnston and President both thanked Parsons and his wife Ayana, co-founder and senior advisor of Yardstick Management, for bringing both institutions together.

Learning Unlimited and Coastal Georgia celebrated what promises to be an impactful collaboration for academic innovation and student success.