José F. Méndez Dr.hc

Vice Presidency of Nationaland International AffairsDual-language degree programsattract young hispanic adultsLuis J. Zayas-SeijoYvonne Cadiz, Director of Tampa Bay Campus;Luis Zayas, Vice President of National andInternational Affairs; Dr. José F. Méndez,President; Dr. Luis Burgos, Vice President ofAGMUS operations in Florida; Digna Alvarez,Regional Director at Senator Bill Nelson’sOffice; Victoria Rodríguez Soto, AssistantVice President and Executive Director Institutefor Public Policy; Tony Morejón, Hispanic -American Liaison at Hillsborough County;José F. Méndez, Jr., Acting ExecutiveVice President and Santiago Corrada,Administrator at City of Tampa.Last May, AGMUS inaugurated its third U.S.mainland campus on the outskirts of Tampa,Florida, a milestone in its mission to bringeducational opportunities to U.S. Hispanics. TheTampa Bay campus opened in September with anoffering of bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Close to$1.4 million was invested in the 12,000-square-footbuilding housing eight classrooms and a learning lab.Since 2003, when Metro Orlando campus opened,the Florida branches have grown steadily. During the2009-2010 academic year, Orlando and South Floridaachieved a 11% increase in enrollment to 1,649- 1,146 at Orlando and 503 at South Florida. Orlandograduated 203 students, compared to 151 in the prior36year; South Florida graduated 119 students comparedwith 37 a year ago. Tampa Bay rounds out AGMUS’Florida university presence.With its sights on the U.S. capital, the Vice Presidencyfor National and International Affairs is exploringpotential campus locations in Maryland to serveHispanics in the Washington D.C. metro area. A campusin the nation’s capital, or in its vicinity, is projected toattract 600 students in five years. Maryland has one ofthe fastest-growing Hispanic populations in the nation.In keeping with AGMUS’ community focus, universityexecutives have met with 38 community leadersseeking feedback on the needs of the WashingtonD.C. area.The Puerto Rico university system – Universidaddel Turabo (UT), Universidad Metropolitana (UMET)and Universidad del Este (UNE) – is the source ofthe accelerated bilingual degree-programs that arecustom-made for working adults, eager to pursuea college education and an opportunity for a betterlife. The distinguishing factor on these U.S. campuses