(March 17, 2008) The Stanly Community College (SCC) Board of Trustees have authorized college President Dr. Michael Taylor to go forward with developing a sister college relationship with the Universidad Tecnologica De Queretaro (UTEQ) in Queretaro, Mexico.
“We believe that developing this relationship with UTEQ will enhance the educational opportunities for both our students and theirs,” Dr. Taylor told the trustees prior to their vote to authorize the president to sign a memorandum of understanding with the university in central Mexico.
Dr. Taylor told the trustees that he envisions a sister college relationship that will include exchanges in faculty and students and visits by administrators of both institutions.
Dr. Taylor, along with Executive Vice President Robin McCree, Global Education Team Chair and Spanish Instructor Patricia Horner, recently visited UTEQ, which is located about 150 miles north of Mexico City in the state of Queretaro.
In addition to the sister college relationship with UTEQ, Dr. Taylor told the board about discussions with Western Kentucky Community College in Pudach, Kentucky. Western Kentucky Community College has a program that allows students to complete internships in Mexico. SCC may send faculty to Mexico this summer to review their programs there.
Dr. Taylor also told the board about conversations with a two-year college in South Africa which is interested in using SCC’s online expertise to set up distance education classes at their institution. Dennis Souther, Dean of Stanly OnLine, recently attended a conference in New York which brought together two-year colleges from around the world. That international meeting was designed to aid those interested in developing relationships with other colleges. Several promising contacts were developed at that meeting, Dr. Taylor told the trustees.
“Our interest in working with colleges from around the world is all aimed at helping us offer greater educational opportunities to our students, for them to learn about diverse cultures, and allowing our faculty and staff to learn from other professionals,” Dr. Taylor concluded.
Pictured below: Stanly Community College President Dr. Michael Taylor (right) presents a piece of Stanly County pottery to Rector (President) Raul Noriega Ponce of Universidad Tecnologica De Queretaro (UTEQ) in Queretaro, Mexico, during a visit in February to establish a sister college relationship with UTEQ.
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