Troy University News

February 19, 2004

Contact:
Tom Davis or Andy Ellis : (334) 670-3196; tomdavis@troy.edu

Office of University Relations
253 Adams Administration
Troy, AL 36082
(334) 670-3196
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TSU chancellor visits Cuba, sees opportunity for Latin American exchanges

   Troy State University Chancellor Jack Hawkins, Jr. has returned from attending a major higher education conference in Cuba convinced that Latin America is fertile ground for educational and cultural exchanges with U.S. universities.
    Dr. Hawkins, along with Dr. Ray Mayfield, Professor of Spanish at TSU, was among 15 U.S. representatives who attended the fourth International Congress on Higher Education Universidad 2004 in Havana Feb.2-6. The congress drew 2,000 people from 64 countries and this year marked the first time representatives from U.S. universities attended the conference. The event featured visits to Cuban universities, and multiple presentations by educators from around the world on a wide range of higher education issues.
   There were only three presentations made by educators from U.S. universities, and TSU representatives made two of them. Dr. Hawkins and Dr. Betty Siegel, President of Kennesaw ( Ga. ) State University presented an overview of the unique nature of U.S. higher education and examined future trends. Dr. Mayfield presented a paper on the evolution of foreign language instruction.
    The congress provided Dr. Hawkins the opportunity to meet with education officials from nations as varied as Ireland , Denmark , Ecuador and the United Arab Emirates . The TSU Chancellor also met with Dr. Fernando Vecino Alegret, Cuba 's Minister of Superior Education.
    “The Congress was a rewarding professional experience, but it also confirmed my belief that Latin America is the next region that American higher education must target for cooperative programs, student and faculty exchanges and possible teaching sites,” Dr. Hawkins said. “ Troy State University already operates sites in 10 foreign nations, but we've never had a strong presence in Latin America .”
   The TSU Chancellor pointed out that Mexico is the only Latin American nation among the top 10 countries of origin that send students to the United States.
    “We have a role to play in our own hemisphere and we plan to actively pursue opportunities in Central and South America in the years ahead,” Dr. Hawkins added.