Rockford University President Eric Fulcomer participating in U.S. - Mexico Higher Education Summit

Second U.S. - Mexico Higher Education Summit hosted by CIC also includes visit to Rockford University campus

Rockford, IL (04/25/2019) — Rockford University President Eric W. Fulcomer, Ph.D., will be attending the second U.S.-Mexico Higher Education Summit in Chicago, Ill., on April 24-27. The summit is hosted by the Council of Independent Colleges in collaboration with the Mexican Federation of Private Higher Education Institutions (FIMPES) and Santander Universidades and Universia. A delegation of 23 Mexican rectors and senior campus colleagues will participate, as will 31 college presidents and senior leaders from 23 CIC member colleges and universities. The summit will emphasize the importance of international exchange in today's "America First" political climate.

Summit events will take place at five CIC member institutions in the Chicago area: DePaul University, Dominican University, North Central College, North Park University and Rockford University. Rockford University will host summit participants for a campus visit on Saturday, April 27.

CIC President Richard Ekman noted, "In the current climate of constrained international cooperation, CIC reaffirms the importance of international exchange for the preparation of informed citizens and responsible global participants. Our Mexican neighbors have a special relationship to colleges in the U.S."

The Summit follows five years during which delegations of Mexican rectors participated in CIC's annual Presidents Institute, the largest annual gathering of college and university presidents in the U.S., and an inaugural Summit held in Guadalajara, Mexico, in 2017. Roberta S. Jacobson, former U.S. Ambassador to Mexico; Antonio Cuesta, acting consul general of Mexico in Chicago; Margaret B. Hug, director of regional education initiatives for the U.S. Department of State; and Rebeca Vargas, president and CEO of U.S.-Mexico Leaders Network, are expected to address the summit.

Session topics include innovation in internationalization, the status of student and faculty exchange programs, cross-border articulation agreements, the nature of global leadership and the situation of undocumented students. Participants will also explore joint summer programs and other forms of educational and scholarly partnership and possibilities for association-to-association partnerships. As a result of the summit, participants intend 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 in shared research projects and development programs.

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