President Bahls joins delegation of U.S. college presidents to Summit Meeting in Mexico

Late this month, Augustana President Steven Bahls will participate in the first Higher Education Summit of the United States and Mexico, which will take place in Guadalajara, Mexico. A U.S. delegation of 24 independent college and university presidents and five cabinet-level officers from U.S. institutions will meet with their Mexican counterparts at the summit, which is named “Reaffirming the North American Spirit of Collaboration in Higher Education: Creating Bridges of Communications.”

Participants aim to provide enhanced exchange opportunities for students and faculty members in both countries, provide students with increased access to internships in Mexico and the United States, and allow faculty members and students to collaborate on research projects and development programs.

About 55% of Augustana students study abroad. “We at Augustana continue to seek out opportunities for building bridges with colleges and universities around the world so that our students can increase their intercultural competency and understanding of our diverse world,” said President Bahls.

“I am hopeful that after our visit the Quad Cities will become a known community for these universities, and that we might see greater cooperation between our higher education institutions and communities in the future,” he added.

The U.S. college presidents and their Mexican colleagues will visit and meet with campus leaders from three Mexican higher education institutions: Instituto Tecnológico de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, Universidad Panamericana and Universidad del Valle de Atemajac. Participants will also meet with the U.S. Consul General in Guadalajara, Tanya C. Anderson, and with local, state and national Mexican officials, as well as additional university rectors. The U.S. delegation and Mexican university rectors will discuss student and faculty exchange programs, articulation agreements, global leadership, visa issues, and undocumented students.

The meeting is organized by the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) and the Mexican Federation of Private Higher Education Institutions (FIMPES), and generously supported by Santander Universidades and Universia.