New program to begin in Mexico
By Helena Rayam
News Writer
The Office of International Studies will offer students a new program in Puebla, Mexico, instead of the Mexico City program. "We felt Mexico City was just too dangerous a place for our students and we were attracted to the quality and variety of academic programs in Puebla," said Michael Francis, assistant provost for International Studies in a prepared statement.
At the Universidad Iberoamerica in Mexico City, students fell victim to various crimes, mainly theft. The Puebla program will be located at the University of the Americas, which is actually in Cholula, Mexico. Both Cholula and Puebla are near Mexico City.
"It's a culturally rich area," said Claudia Kselman, associate director for International Programs.
Puebla has a population of two million people, and many anthropologists have studied archaeological sites in the pre-Colombian city of Cholula. Kselman stated that this program will benefit anthropology majors. The program will also offer classes in science, business and "the full complement of Arts and Letters," said Kselman.
The Office of International Studies intends to appoint a Notre Dame faculty member to be in Mexico to assist students and plan trips, among other duties. The need for an on-site director depends on the number of students who enter the program.
"We hope that the students will seize the opportunity," said Kselman.
Students can take classes for a semester or year and live on the campus or with families that the program screens. The program requires students to have a full year of Spanish before studying at the University. The program will try to start with at least ten students per semester.
"Eventually we can go higher than that and we'd love to," said Kselman.
Currently there is one Notre Dame student at the University, senior Blanca Ibanez. She is finishing classes for her literature major and is taking computer application courses as well.
The University has over 5,000 students and 95 percent are Mexican. Notre Dame's program is independent from that of other universities, but American schools such as Stanford and Valparaiso also have programs at the same location.
The program will not replace opportunities to study abroad in Monterrey, Mexico.
All News Stories for Tuesday, February 1, 2000
