Global honors for Pima

Ricardo and I presented a plenary session on the topic “How Industry 4.0 & Global Education will Shape the Future of Work: A Case Study from Arizona.” I also was a panelist at the “Tertiary Education International Policy Forum.”

Dr. Ricardo Castro-Salazar, Vice President for International Development, and I were truly honored that Pima was recognized by the World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnics (WFCP) earlier this month for the College’s dedication to building educational partnerships for underserved students on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border.

The WCFP is an international network of colleges and associations. The Awards of Excellence presentation, Oct. 9 in Melbourne, Australia, recognized leaders in professional and technical education and training.

Institutions from 25 countries received awards. Pima was the only U.S. college to be recognized.

Our award is a testament to our ongoing bi-national collaboration with Mexico and the Mexico Consulate in Tucson. Together, we have created an Education Orientation Window at the consulate, where Mexican nationals and Mexican-Americans can learn about education opportunities in Tucson and Mexico.

Pima also has strengthened partnerships with the Institute for Mexicans Abroad and other Mexico institutions that have helped offer 488 scholarships to Mexican-origin and Hispanic students from historically marginalized communities. We have increased Pima’s involvement in a Mexican government program that provides financial and entrepreneurship education to the Mexican community in the U.S., and have provided faculty training programs, conversation partners and peer mentoring.

We live in a global era, with ever-expanding opportunities for cross-border cultural and educational initiatives. The WFCP award confirms our efforts to strengthen the rich Arizona-Sonora relationship for the benefit of students on both sides of the border.

> Read the media release announcing Pima’s award

Strengthening cross-border partnerships

The College’s connections with Mexico continue to pay dividends for students on both sides of the border. Beginning in January, PCC and the Instituto Tecnológico de Hermosillo (ITH) will share a one-year, $25,000 grant to train leaders in the fast-growing field of sustainability.

The initiative is made possible by a grant from the 100,000 Strong in the Americas Innovation Fund. In the Sustainable Energy Exchange Program: Benefiting Binational Communities, One Community at a Time project, PCC, ITH and community partners will teach participating students clean energy and sustainability in a global context, plus offer them work experience.

Through exchange programs students from both institutions will work in teams and gain technical skills to be more competent for the global workforce. Approximately eight PCC students will participate, starting in spring 2018. PCC expects to host eight ITH students at the same time. The grant also has a service learning component, with students educating communities on energy-saving tools and techniques.

Programs that give our students the opportunity to study abroad while bringing International students to our campuses are an excellent fit with our 2017-2021 Strategic Plan, as well as Strategic Goal 6 of our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Plan. Moreover, wind and solar energy employment is growing rapidly in the U.S., according to a 2016 Department of Energy report. This new initiative, made possible through the dedication and creativity of our Center for International Education and Global Engagement, will lead to tangible academic and career success for our students.

More support for our students

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

I am proud to report that our deepening ties with Mexico continue to result in additional support for our students. Yesterday Mexico’s ambassador to the United States presented the College with an $80,000 award to fund scholarships for immigrants and Americans of Mexican origin.

The funds were presented by Ambassador Carlos Manuel Sada Solana during a brief ceremony at the Mexican Consulate in Tucson. It was an honor to meet the ambassador, and the College is grateful he made time in a busy schedule for PCC.

Kudos to Dr. Ricardo Castro-Salazar, Vice President for International Development, and his team at the Center for International Education and Global Engagement for making the meeting happen.

The support for PCC comes from the Institute for Mexicans Abroad (IME), which is part of Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Relations. This is the third grant PCC has received from IME since November 2014, bringing the total for scholarships to $260,000. As Ambassador Sada stated while praising community colleges for preparing students for transfer or employment, “There is no greater legacy than education.”

November has been particularly fruitful for the College’s multifaceted relationship with Mexico. On Nov. 19, a group of 25 college students from Mexico graduated from a four-week PCC program featuring English as a Second Language instruction and cultural enrichment. It was the fourth group we have hosted in the past two years as part of the Proyecta 100,000 program of the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Relations.

As Vice President of Instruction and Transfer Pathways Dr. Gregg Busch told the graduates, learning a foreign language is essential to building relationships and opens a window to new cultures. The College is committed to enhancing bi-national connections that benefit our diverse region.

New partnerships with Mexico

With President Fox

I had the great privilege of representing the College at a landmark event last week in Mexico. A delegation from Tucson, led by Mayor Jonathan Rothschild and including the College and Visit Tucson, met with former Mexico President Vicente Fox.

Since leaving office, President Fox has headed a foundation, Centro Fox, which is committed to furthering education, entrepreneurship and leadership.  President Fox agreed to partner with Tucson, and as part of the collaboration, he asked the College to work with him to institute a two-year college credentialing system in Guanajuato, Mexico, similar to a community college system. As we at PCC well know, community colleges are a crucial piece to furthering the educational and career aspirations of those who cannot afford university tuition.

The new partnership represents a strategic advance as the College enhances Global Education and responds to opportunities in business and industry. Mexico is Arizona’s No. 1 trading partner, by far, purchasing more Arizona goods and services than the next 10 trading partners combined. Tens of thousands of jobs in our state depend on this relationship. Our cross-border connections can only improve our position as an economic development engine for the region.

CECATI signing

With Marlenne Medina Trejo of the Technological University of Saltillo

I should note that last week’s collaboration comes after I signed International Memorandums of Understanding recently for the College to partner with two institutions of higher learning in Mexico, the Technological University of Saltillo and the Training Center for Industrial Work (CECATI) for northwest Mexico.

These important new connections further our efforts to become a multinational leader in education for the globalized 21st century. I am grateful to Dr. Ian Roark, Vice President for Workforce Development; and to Dr. Ricardo Castro-Salazar, Vice President for International Development, and his team at PCC’s Center for International Education and Global Engagement.

Report to the Community

This month’s edition of PCC Spotlight, the College’s e-newsletter, contains my annual Report to the Community.

Some of the topics addressed in the Report:

• Accreditation: We have submitted a Notice Report to the Higher Learning Commission, a key step in regaining the fullest measure of confidence from our accreditor.
• Fiscal stewardship: I put into perspective PCC’s budget, property tax rates, and tuition for 2016-17.
• Student success: We are making strides in improving and expanding pathways for students at the beginning of their education journey.

Click to read PCC Spotlight 

Progress on Internationalization

I want to share an important document:  “Strategic Plan for Internationalization/Vision 2020.”

Written by Ricardo Castro-Salazar, Acting Vice President for International Development, the comprehensive report details the strides the College has made in multiple areas: infusing global knowledge into the curriculum, creating a language institute, developing community and global engagement, developing a study abroad program, identifying opportunities for workforce development in the international arena, providing international and cultural development for employees, and expanding international student outreach, recruitment and services.

The importance of these endeavors to the success of all our students cannot be overstated. As Ricardo writes, it is necessary “to educate our community for interdependence, global citizenship skills, and to bring the world to our students, a world driven by a global economy and challenges that transcend national borders.” Bringing the world to Pima is an ambitious undertaking that will benefit our students, city and region academically, culturally and economically.

[Read an executive summary of the report.]

Reviving our international program

I am excited to share Pima’s progress on internationalization. Under the leadership of  Dr. Ricardo Castro-Salazar, Acting Vice President for International Development,  and the tremendous support of our faculty, staff and community, Pima has laid the groundwork for a revived international program.

It is becoming increasingly obvious that in the 21st century, the world’s political, economic and environmental challenges cannot be solved by one country, and must be met by a multinational, cross-cultural response. I am proud to say that PCC is meeting that challenge, as the information below clearly demonstrates.

Pima Community College International Development

February 17, 2016

• We have a Strategic Plan for Internationalization with seven strategic goals and 70 objectives. The plan was the work of a Task Force of 84 people that not only had district-wide representation (faculty, staff and administrators), but also community members, foreign representatives in our community, representatives from the Mayor’s Office, County Government, and students.
• Created the American Institute of Language and Culture at Pima (AILAC). Will offer the first ESL package for int’l students in Summer 2016. This will also help our local enrollments
• We have worked with the Tucson City Government and the Pima County Administrator to align our int’l objectives for Pima County’s economic development
• PCC offers 132 courses with “Global” and “Cultural Diversity” content. Nevertheless, despite the guidelines and recommendations from the HLC, AACC, ACCT, and others, PCC did not have a comprehensive global education plan before Chancellor Lambert.
• Francisca James Hernandez has represented the College at the Generation Study Abroad Summit and directs the development of Faculty-Led Study Abroad initiatives.
• One of our goals in PCC’s Diversity Plan is to “Increase global diversity and inclusion.” And one of our SLOs across all disciplines is to “appreciate cultural and global diversity” (PCC, Monitoring Report on the Assessment of Student Learning Outcomes to the HLC, 2013).
• PCC has now a Fulbright Representative (R. Castro-Salazar)

 

Fulbright Program & International Visitors

• DK Wu, Co-founder & Managing Director at CAACC (Chinese Association of American Community Colleges). Fulbright Outreach Lecturing Fund. Jan 22, 2016
• Reginald Oputa, Fulbright Scholar in Residence. Spring 2016.
• Ricardo Castro-Salazar has been selected as one of five US Fulbright Scholars to participate in the Community College Administrative Seminar in Russia in Apr 2016.
• Tucson-Korean Ambassador Program. 42 middle school students visited WC. Spring 2016
• Carl Bagley, Head of School of Education. Durham University, UK.
• Seung-Man Kang, Vice Dean, International Services Center, Chungbuk National University, Korea.
• Brazilian educators. 10 educators visited PCC & learned about our programs and int’l education opportunities. Fall 2015.
• President of Zhuhai City Polytechnic College, China. Jun 2015.
• President (Rector) of Instituto Tecnológico de Sonora (ITSON). IMOU, Mar 2015.

 

College Internationalization Survey

• 275 respondents, not including international team. 129 reported experience living or studying abroad and they speak 26 different languages.
• 145 respondents expressed interest in promoting PCC abroad.
• 31 faculty members who do not teach courses related to multicultural or international education but that incorporate these perspectives in their courses.
• 21 employees report experience coordinating or organizing study abroad programs.

 

International Enrollments:

• Growing, modestly, but continually in the midst of an overall College enrollment decline.
• Spring 2016: A total of 207 int’l students from 41 countries, compared to 202 in Spring 2015. We have enrolled 37 new F-1 students. Concurrent & Other Visa types declined, but we enrolled more F1s than in Spring 2015.
• Fall 2015: A total of 262 int’l students from 34 countries, compared to 246 in Fall 2014. We enrolled 53 new F-1 students. Fall enrollments include 59 J-1s Bécalos Program Participants in 2015 and 48 in 2014.
• Summer 2015: A total of 143 int’l students from 38 countries, compared to 96 in Summer 2014. This included 42 J-1 visa holders from 3 educational contracts.
• Spring 2015: A total of 202 int’l students, including 25 new F-1 visa holders.

 

PCC is the only community college designated as a J-1 sponsoring institution in AZ

• In Fall 2014, in recognition of PCC’s participation in the 100,000 Strong in the Americas Initiative, the US State Department and the US Embassy in Mexico sponsored J-1 visas for 49 international students attending PCC.
• In March 2015, PCC regained federal approval to sponsor J-1 visas. Between the summer and fall 2015, PCC enrolled an additional 98 students on J-1 visas.

 

International educational contracts have helped local enrollments

• A positive multiplying effect on overall enrollments. Classes where int’l students have enrolled have become more cost effective, or even feasible (avoiding cancellations). Furthermore, the classes added to our schedule for our international contracts have given our local students a number of additional options. These classes include: CIS121, CIS162, CIS281, MKT125, MKT139, DAR103, DAR176, TEC123, TEC123 LB, TEC225, TEC225 LB, TEC250, and TEC250LB.
• Our ESL Program also has benefitted from our international contracts and our ESL Faculty have received additional teaching contracts for the following courses: ENG260, ESL098T6, ESL098T7, ESL080GR, ESL085GR, LA079EI, and LA089EI.

 

Restoring our relationship with Mexico has helped our int’l and local enrollments

We have won two grants ($180,000.00) from the Mexican Government and the private organization Together We Can/Juntos Podemos. With these funds, we have provided 149 scholarships to deserving students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. These enrollments are very impactful because they help those who need the most support in our community. Some of our scholarship holders literally could not enroll without these resources.

 

International Memoranda of Understanding

• Fundación Televisa, Mexico
• Government of Ulleungdo, Republic of Korea
• Instituto Tecnológico de Sonora (ITSON), Mexico
• Ningbo City College of Vocational Technology, Ningbo China
• PPEP and Limbe Business College, Cameroon
• Zhuhai City Polytechnic College, Zhuhai China

 

PCC, ITSON renew friendship, sign agreement

On Tuesday, Rector Isidro Roberto Cruz of the Technological Institute of Sonora (ITSON) and I signed an agreement of cooperation between our two institutions. ITSON (www.itson.mx) is a prestigious public institution of higher education in northwest Mexico and an important player in its regional economy. Among many projects in southern Sonora, ITSON has a business incubator, a software development center (NOVUTEK), an International District for Agribusinesses, a University Center for Community Development, and a Research Center for Biotechnology, Agricultural and Environmental Innovation.

This summer, 15 ITSON professors from different fields will spend four weeks at Pima improving their English and exploring pedagogical methods for the delivery of classes in English. The PCC-ITSON agreement will also allow for PCC students and faculty members to do studies, research and professional development at ITSON. West Campus President Lou Albert and I received an invitation from Rector Cruz to visit his institution to continue developing bi-national partnerships. Agreements such as this strengthen global education at PCC and have benefits that extend across national borders.

An international program for the 21st century

The 49 college students from Mexico attending Pima Community College this semester are doing more than working on their English skills and taking classes in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics disciplines. They are part of a culture-spanning initiative that is truly hemispheric in scope.

Last week at West Campus, I had the pleasure of taking part in a welcome-to-Pima for the 50 students. They are here thanks to the support of the SEP-Bécalos-Santander Universidades International Program, in collaboration with Fundación Televisa (a large Mexican foundation). The Bécalos program is part of the U.S. 100,000 Strong for the Americas Global Initiative and its Mexican counterpart, Proyecta 100,000, as well as the U.S.-Mexico Bi-national Forum on Higher Education, Innovation and Research.

In total, the initiative’s reach extends from Canada to South America, making PCC’s guest students the vanguard of a huge international awareness project that aligns with our strategic goals of enhancing global education at PCC. Having grown up on three continents, I know that living or studying broad profoundly changes your perception of the world. The Bécalos students will emerge with new perspective on the world. So will the students they engage with at PCC, especially the Pima PEERS – Positive Engaging Educational Resource Support. These students are easing the transition to PCC for our guests, many of whom had never been to the U.S. before.

Many people and groups have contributed to the program’s successful launch: West Campus President Dr. Lou Albert, Executive Assistant Geneva Escobedo and Enrollment Program Manager Craig Winters, the International Student Services Office, Student Life Coordinator Jennifer Wellborn, Bécalos Program Coordinator Yvonne Perez, Student Services Advanced Specialist Rose Bolz and Advanced Program Manager Dr. Daisy Rodriguez Pitel, who is putting together the programs numerous pieces. Also, I want to acknowledge Dr. Ricardo Castro-Salazar of Northwest Campus, who was instrumental in making the project become a reality, and Maggie Suárez of Fundación Televisa.

And as always, an effort of this breadth couldn’t be achieved without our community partners. The students’ out-of-classroom education will be substantial, thanks to the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. The THCC, led by President Lea Marquez Peterson, will provide job shadowing and mentoring opportunities from a variety of businesses in the research and manufacturing sectors, and will provide help with language skills. Felipe Garcia of Visit Tucson notes that the program is a prime opportunity for our diverse city to make a favorable impression on the students and influence future visitors from Mexico.

Mexican Consul Ricardo Pineda Albarran put it well when he described the Arizona-Sonora relationship as one of the richest in the world, not just in terms of the billions of dollars in trade and investment between the two regions, but in growing opportunities for cultural and educational enrichment. “We live in a global era,” he said. In the 21st century, being a responsible citizen means thinking not only about the folks next door, but also about your neighbors around the world. Programs such as Bécalos send a strong message that PCC is rebuilding its international presence, and all of the students involved can be proud of being part of a project with global impact.

Global education: bringing the world to PCC

The College and I had the privilege yesterday of hosting a visit from Yan Weiyuan, director of Tsinghua University-Hebei Institute for Study Abroad International Program (SAIP). Director Yan visited the District Office and then toured West Campus in order to learn more about the College and opportunities for international students.

West Campus President Dr. Louis Albert, along with Vice President of Instruction Dee Lammers and Executive Assistant Geneva Escobedo, conducted the tour, with masterful translation and interpretation provided by the indispensable Yan Xu, a District Office Fiscal Support Specialist.

The director visited numerous areas of the campus including the library and Student Learning Center, high-tech mathematics and chemistry labs, a Radiologic Technology classroom, the Center for the Arts, and the International Student Services Office, which currently serves 137 international students from 48 nations, including 44 from Mexico, 28 from China, 11 from South Korea and six from Vietnam.

The director was keenly interested in all aspects of the college, especially counseling and advising. The redesign of Student Services currently under way will provide to all students a consistent, personalized connection with advisors and counselors that is necessary for effective student engagement and success.

Located in Beijing, Tsinghua University is a prestigious international higher-learning institution, and Director Yan’s visit is notable as an indication that economic and technological forces are making the physical distance between individuals and communities increasingly irrelevant. Global connections multiply every day; as former general secretary of the United Nations Kofi Annan has said, arguing against globalism is like arguing against gravity. My commitment to universal access means giving everyone, regardless of their circumstances, the opportunity to pursue their academic and career goals at PCC, and to offer our students the chance to pursue studies in programs located around the world.

That is why our draft 2014-2017 Strategic Plan includes “Increasing diversity, inclusion and global education” as one of its key directions. I recognize that the one of the most valuable opportunities that College can offer is to bring students from different cultures together. The chance to learn from each other, celebrate the differences and appreciate the underlying similarities will have lifelong benefits for everyone. Toward this end, I look forward to working with Tsinghua University and other organizations, wherever they may be located, in order to bring the world to our students.