TROY – Troy University has begun a realignment that places all of its international programs under one administrator, a move that University officials believe will pay great dividends both at home and abroad.

Effective Sept. 5, all international programs at Troy University are under the administration of University College, the division which operates all TROY campuses outside of Alabama. Prior to the move, University College and the Office of International Programs, which is in charge of recruiting international students to Troy and administering study-abroad programs for American students, were operated separately.

“Internationalization has been a fundamental part of our mission at Troy University for more than a decade,” Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr., chancellor, said. “This reorganization is consistent with the bold goals for 2010 adopted by this administration and the board of trustees regarding international program development.”

Those institutional goals include enrolling at least 800 international students on the Troy Campus, establishing teaching sites in 25 nations outside the United States and implementing at least five study-abroad programs per year in each of TROY’s five academic colleges.

The new plan calls for all international programs to report to Dr. Earl Ingram, vice chancellor for University College. Dr. Curt Porter, former dean of international programs, has been named associate vice chancellor for international affairs. The newly created Office of International Affairs is responsible for the areas of international student recruiting, study-abroad programs, international student admissions, international student services, English as a Second Language instruction and international partnership development.

Dr. Ingram said existing personnel will fill several of the key positions in the new administrative structure, but added at least three new administrative positions will be created, including a dean of international student services and  a director of international student recruiting. In addition, a director of study-abroad programs will be hired in the near future.

“The realignment and consolidation of international activities will allow us to fully capitalize on our worldwide infrastructure,” Dr. Ingram said. “Everyone with whom I have spoken in what have been our two international units is excited about the consolidation and the synergy we expect to develop toward achieving our strategic objectives related to internationalization.”

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