UMSL, St. Mary’s South Side Catholic High School sign deal to turn dreams into degrees for students, staff

UMSL, St. Mary's South Side Catholic High School sign deal to turn dreams into degrees for students, staff

by Steve Walentik | Aug 11, 2026

In what could be the first partnership of its kind in the St. Louis region, the University of Missouri-St. Louis is teaming up with St. Mary's South Side Catholic High School and to open doors for high schoolers, faculty, staff and aspiring educators alike.

"Today marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for St. Mary's Southside Catholic High School and the University of Missouri-St. Louis," St. Mary's President Mike England said as he addressed an audience of nearly 50 people, including St. Mary's students and staff and members of the news media, during a signing ceremony on Tuesday morning in the high school's gymnasium in South St. Louis. "Through this partnership between two St. Louis community anchors, we are creating opportunities, opening doors and building pathways that will benefit students and our community for years to come."

UMSL Interim Chancellor Chris Spilling joined England on stage to finalize the memorandum of understanding while backed by a group of St. Mary's students. The three-year agreement includes exclusive benefits for students looking to attend UMSL as well as professional development opportunities for faculty and staff while providing UMSL education students with experience in classrooms at St. Mary's.

"The University of Missouri-St. Louis is excited to establish this partnership, which will help talented students at St. Mary's South Side Catholic High School continue their academic journey in higher education so they can reach their dreams," said Reggie Hill, UMSL's vice chancellor for strategic enrollment and career advancement. "UMSL offers so many great academic programs that prepare students for rewarding careers that fit their interests, bolstering their own futures while strengthening the St. Louis region."

The agreement is also emblematic of how St. Mary's future has changed in recent years. The school had been marked for closure by the St. Louis Archdiocese at the end of June in 2023, but it moved to remain open as an independent school, and England said it has seen 37% enrollment growth over the past three years with 90 freshmen on track to begin the new school year later this week.

The partnership with UMSL adds to the options St. Mary's provides its students looking for postsecondary education opportunities.

"The symbiotic relationship this three-year agreement builds between us and UMSL exposes students to career opportunities in addition to the apprenticeship program we built with our local trade union leaders," said England, who happens to hold an MEd in secondary school administration from UMSL. "It's clear our Dragons are in demand for educational institutions and the trades."

Highlights of the partnership for St. Mary's students include:

• A streamlined admissions process for St. Mary's students
• A minimum guaranteed merit scholarship of $5,250 for qualified St. Mary's students.
• UMSL will also coordinate with St. Mary's on pre-college engagement opportunities, including exposing students to undergraduate programs, academic pathways and career-aligned disciplines.
• UMSL will also provide admissions advising, financial aid counseling and support with career exploration as well as implement a campus engagement initiative that could include campus tours and visit opportunities.
• UMSL will also participate in career fairs, workshops and related programming at St. Mary's aligned with student interests and regional workforce needs.
• St. Mary's will provide UMSL opportunities to engage with students through on-site or virtual presentations and provide access to appropriate school communication channels to promote the partnership and UMSL's programs.

For UMSL students pursuing careers in education, the partnership includes:

• Chances to serve as student teachers, supporting classroom instruction while also gaining practical, supervised teaching experience.

For St. Mary's staff, the partnership includes:

• Professional development opportunities through UMSL's Employer Education Partnerships and skills development initiatives.
• UMSL will offer tuition discounts to make upskilling, reskilling and career advancement pathways more accessible to St. Mary's faculty and staff.

This three-year agreement is part of UMSL's broader effort to partner with leading employers across the region and beyond. The university has developed similar educational partnerships with organizations such as World Wide Technology, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, Nidec Motor Corporation, MERS Goodwill, Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri and the Greater St. Louis Area Council Scouting.

Through national platforms like the Edcor School Network, Amazon Career Choice, AllCampus and Bisk Amplified™, UMSL is extending its impact to working adults across the country - offering accessible undergraduate and graduate programs aligned with employer priorities and long-term career growth.

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