St. John’s University officially made an alliance with St. Thomas Aquinas College on Wednesday, Sept. 21 allowing certain students from the school to take graduate courses in St. John’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

This alliance has been long awaited according to Patrick McGuire, Ed.D., St. John’s Assistant Dean and Director of Special Academic Programs.

“The alliance has been in the works for a year and a half,” McGuire said.

The alliance was made possible by the dedication and hard work of many people and was guided by McGuire and Rev. James Maher, C.M., Vice President of Student Affairs.

This alliance will be very beneficial to STAC students according to McGuire.

“This program will allow those academically talented individuals to pursue a graduate degree in biology, English, and several other areas of study here in St. John’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences graduate department,” McGuire said.

Students from STAC are expected to be entering St. John’s under the alliance in the spring 2006 semester.

This alliance will also allow STAC students to participate in a library science program at St. John’s.

The library science program is a non-degree program. It is intended to encourage students to enter the little-known field of library science which is in desperate need of well trained individuals.