In June 2022, The Institute of World Politics signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Belmont Abbey College in order to begin a partnership in international affairs education. Belmont Abbey College is a small Catholic college located in North Carolina and founded on Benedictine values.
Through the new partnership, IWP will offer several benefits to the students of Belmont Abbey College. They will have the opportunity to receive early assurance of admission to IWP. For up to ten students admitted into its onsite M.A. program, IWP will automatically offer a scholarship worth $2,200 per semester. Belmont Abbey students will also remain eligible for additional IWP merit-based scholarships, or receive tuition discounts for IWP’s online M.A. program. Finally, students from Belmont Abbey College will receive priority consideration for IWP’s internship program. To better acquaint its students with IWP’s mission and curriculum, Belmont Abbey College may request a tailored visit for its students to IWP once a year.
In turn, Belmont Abbey College will advertise these opportunities to its students and raise awareness of IWP’s programs on its campus.
IWP’s Academic Programs Manager and Adjunct Faculty member, Dr. Tim McCranor (IWP ’12), coordinated this partnership with Belmont Abbey College’s Vice Provost for Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty, Dr. David Williams, as well as its Dean of the Honors College and Associate Professor, Dr. Joseph Wysocki.
“Belmont Abbey College is happy to partner with The Institute for World Politics and expand opportunities for our students to build on their education with us,” Dr. Williams commented. “Our mission hopes for our students to be ‘a blessing for themselves and others,’ and those called to careers in international affairs will find that developing their skills at IWP will build on what they’ve received at BAC in a host of ways.”
Mr. Tim Stebbins, IWP Vice President of Graduate Recruitment, added that “IWP and Belmont have a mutual commitment to the defense of truth, justice, and the Western moral tradition, and our efforts are greatly strengthened by our new partnership. This endeavor will streamline our central mission of educating the next generation of leadership in intelligence, diplomacy, and national security. We very much look forward to welcoming Belmont Abbey alumni through our doors and watching them embark on fascinating careers.”