TAMIU Receives $331,126 in Federal
Funding for Title VI Development Projects

Combined federal funding awards of $331,126 in support of Texas A&M International University student and faculty development initiatives were announced by Congressman Henry Cuellar in ceremonies held Monday in the University's Student Center.

The Title VI grants from the US Department of Education are two years in duration.

Congressman Cuellar, a TAMIU alum, noted that the University continues to make strides in its programming for student growth and development.

"We are all greatly impressed by the University's commitment to providing relevant student growth opportunities that can only enhance their education experience here.  We look forward to hearing of the University's student and faculty success in delivering these important programs," Cuellar said.

Dr. Ray Keck, TAMIU president, said the federal support offers remarkable opportunities for students at the University.

"Both of these efforts help to underscore our campus' international dimension and will better prepare our students for the global workplace.  We appreciate the leadership of Congressman Cuellar in supporting these visionary initiatives," Dr. Keck said.

The first grant, for $173,331, funds "Reaching for New Global Heights at TAMIU," focused on collaborative efforts between TAMIU faculty and Ph.D. in International Business students and business and scholarly communities. The program will provide student research fellows to local business and the United Nations as well as a Ph.D. students consortium. Proposal developers were TAMIU's Professor Tagi Sagafi-nejad, Ph.D. and Dr. Andrés Rivas, both of the College of Business Administration.

The second, for $157,795, funds the "TAMIU Latin American Studies and Foreign Language Program" and is targeted at preparing students for careers in business, government and public service related to Latin America.  It will include the development of new courses, on-site courses in Central America, the development of Spanish heritage language placement and proficiency exams, workshops to improve K-16 heritage language training, panel presentations on bilingualism and Latin American issues and an annual Latin American Studies Week on campus.

Proposal developers were TAMIU's Dr. Randall Parish and Dr. Jaclyn Jeffrey of the College of Arts and Sciences.

For information on "Reaching for New Global Heights," contact Dr. Tagi Sagafi-nejad, director of the Ph.D. program at 326.2514, visit offices in Western Hemispheric Trade Center 219 or e-mail tagi.sagafi@tamiu.edu

For information on the TAMIU Latin American Studies and Foreign Language Program, contact Dr. Randall Parrish, assistant professor, College of Arts and Sciences, at 326.2528, visit offices in Lamar Bruni Vergara Science Center 313, or e-mail rparish@tamiu.edu

University office hours are from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday-Friday.

Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at prmis@tamiu.edu