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Sovereign Bank and Santander Universities Announce Agreement with Boston University that Supports Global Health Studies

(L to R): Santander Chairman Emilio Botín, Boston University President Robert Brown, and Sovereign Bank CEO Gabriel Jaramillo.

Partnership establishes innovative, community-based, undergraduate Spanish program

Boston University has signed an agreement with Sovereign Bank, a part of Banco Santander, that will provide academic scholarships in the University’s School of Public Health and establish a new undergraduate Spanish language and cultural community program.  Sovereign Bank will provide support through Santander Universities, a major initiative through Banco Santander in support of higher education and the expansion of knowledge and experience throughout the world.

“We are proud to announce our first partnership with Boston University in support of student scholarships that will further advance higher education and international collaboration – components that are crucial to Santander Universities and its mission,” said Banco Santander Chairman Emilio Botín. “This innovative agreement also establishes a new undergraduate program that connects students with the Greater Boston community by strengthening Spanish and cultural ties.”

“We are grateful to Sovereign Bank and Banco Santander for the generous support for two very promising initiatives–one in global health and one in language and literature,” said Boston University President Dr. Robert A. Brown.  “They are making it possible for us to provide scholarship support for students in the School of Public Health who will do their field practica overseas.  And this support is enabling our outreach to the Latino community in the greater Boston area through language and cultural programs.  Through its Santander Universities consortium, Sovereign and Santander have made an extraordinary commitment to strengthening international higher education.”

Through the new undergraduate Spanish Language and Cultural Program, named “The Hispanic Voices Program,” undergraduate curriculum will now include a unique community service course that enables students to introduce Spanish-language theatre into Boston-area high schools.  The Hispanic Voices Program also includes the renovation of “Casa Hispanica” (Spanish House), a center that will provide a place for students to interact with the Greater Boston community through:

• Spanish language and culture courses offered to community groups in Boston’s Roxbury neighborhood.
• A series of cultural events sponsored by the Department of Romance Studies for the Hispanic Community at Boston University.
• In addition, the agreement will provide scholarships for students enrolled at the Boston University School of Public Health for overseas study via the school’s Center for Global Health and Development, further enhancing the University’s growing commitment to global health initiatives. The agreement includes:
• Scholarships to ten low to moderate income undergraduate students in support of their studies.
• Scholarships to ten Latin American Students to pursue their field of interest.
• A special fund to help support up to twenty-five students to participate in BU’s Kenya Field Practice Program.