Attending college gives many students the opportunity to travel the world. For years, Loyola has looked for ways to incorporate this opportunity into their students’ education to make it a reality.
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After establishing campuses in Rome, Beijing and Ho Chi Minh City, Loyola is looking to create a center in Latin America by 2015, according to the Office of Strategic Planning’s website.
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“We are exploring an expansion of our already extensive programming in Latin America,” said Patrick Boyle, assistant to the president for Global Initiatives and Centers of Excellence.
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“The region of Latin America is quite diverse and we seek to appreciate that diversity with a number of different student options,” Boyle said.
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Latin America includes Mexico and Central and South America, where Spanish and Portuguese are the main national languages.
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However, Loyola has not yet made any final decisions about the future campus’ location.
“We are trying to evaluate the best way to get the work [done] that we want done,” said Rosemary Max, director of the Office of International Programs. “This may or may not mean in Latin America.”
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“Most recently, we are pursuing conversations with new potential partners in Brazil and Argentina. Our goal is to enhance student and faculty study and research throughout the region without limiting ourselves to one country or region.”
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Students said they are hopeful for the possibility of a campus in Latin America.
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Senior history and Spanish double major William Hurd, 21, studied abroad in Santiago, Chile, in spring 2011. He thinks a campus in Latin America would extend Loyola’s Jesuit practices.
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“I think it’d be a great insight into the Jesuit ideals of social justice,” Hurd said. “It only just seems kind of fitting [that Loyola have a campus in Latin America]. It’s the next natural step.”
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Freshman Sydney Minorik agrees.
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“I am grateful for Loyola’s commitment to excellence and the strategic plan that will hopefully allow me to one day fulfill a lifelong dream of mine to travel to Latin America at some point in my college career,” said the 18-year-old prospective study abroad student and international business major.
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Loyola already has ties with Latin America, as it is partnered with various study abroad and service learning programs in Mexico, Chile, Peru, Columbia, Brazil and more.
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“We are encouraging students and faculty to interact more in Latin America,” Boyle said. “This increase in activity will help expansion.”
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Many students also think a campus in Latin America would be beneficial for them.
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“This study abroad opportunity will enable me to utilize my knowledge of Spanish and give me firsthand experience about the Latin American culture,” said 18-year-old Hannah Coley, a freshman Spanish minor.
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“Latin America has so much to offer and students will be immediately drawn to the rich culture and deep history, surely making the experience worthwhile,” Harrison Hayes, 19-year-old sophomore communication studies major added.
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Because of the numerous connections Loyola has built with various areas of Latin America, it is difficult deciding on just one country to host the campus, according to Boyle.
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“We don’t want to exclude any countries, but rather explore them,” he said.
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A partnership or center is scheduled to be established in Latin America by the year 2015, according to Loyola’s Strategic Plan for implementing excellence.
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by Susie Moskop
smoskop@luc.edu
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Original article found at: http://www.loyolaphoenix.com/loyola-looks-to-create-center-in-latin-america
Loyola looks to create center in Latin America
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