The Council of Independent Colleges, in collaboration with the Mexican Federation of Private Higher Education Institutions and Santander Universidades and Universia, is the host of the summit. 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. Events will take place at DePaul University, Dominican University, North Central College, North Park University and Rockford University.

The summit will emphasize the importance of international exchange in today鈥檚 鈥淎merica First鈥� political climate. CIC president Richard Ekman noted, 鈥淚n 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.鈥�

The Summit follows five years during which delegations of Mexican rectors participated in CIC鈥檚 annual Presidents Institute, the largest annual gathering of college and university presidents in the U.S., and an inaugural U.S.-Mexico Summit held in 2017 in Guadalajara, Mexico.

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 also will explore joint summer programs and other forms of educational and scholarly partnership and possibilities for association-to-association partnerships.

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 U.S.; and allow faculty members and students to collaborate in research projects and development programs.

###