Colombian Dignitary Visits FGCU to Learn About Technology
6/3/2002

FORT MYERS, FL - Gustavo Antonio Tellez Iregui, rector from the Universidad Pedagogica Nacional in Bogota, Colombia, visits Florida Gulf Coast University Thursday, June 6 as part of the International Visitor program administered by the United States Department of State.

Tellez specifically requested the visit to FGCU to see the use of contemporary technology on the University campus, including academic buildings, labs and residence halls. He has a special interest in incorporating new technologies at his university and taking into full account the role design and architecture play in building “wired” schools and campuses.

The Universidad Pedagogica Nacional has the largest teacher training and education science faculties in Colombia and has national influence on curriculum and teaching methods.

After meeting with President William C. Merwin, Tellez visits several offices on campus, including Instructional Technology and the University Library. He also receives a campus tour and meetings with faculty.

“FGCU is pleased to host international visitors like Dr. Tellez on our campus as part of the State Department International Visitor Program,” Merwin says. “Higher education offers a tremendous opportunity to bring together people from all over the world to learn from each other and we are looking forward to sharing FGCU’s technology initiatives with Dr. Tellez.”

Tellez contacted FGCU through the Office of International Services and Student Life. Director Elaine Hozdik says Tellez selected FGCU, “because of our use of technology in education and he would like to see how this is designed, utilized and its effectiveness.”

The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, under the state department, operates the International Visitor program by authority of the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961.

Every year, the program brings current and potential leaders in government, politics, the media, education and others fields to the United States from all over the world to confer with professional counterparts, enriching themselves and their country.

“The program supports short term visits so professionals can learn via exchange visits from colleagues in the U.S. and abroad,” Hozdik says.

The program is an extension of the original Fulbright Act of 1946 that recently sent two FGCU faculty members to Tunisia, Morocco and China.

A tentative schedule of Tellez’s visit is included. For more information, contact Hozdik at (941) 590-7931.

Tellez Visit Proposed Schedule

Time     Activity     Dept     Representative

9 a.m.     Campus Tour     Admissions     M.Yovanovich

9:45     Housing Tour     Housing     I. Brundage

10:30     Designing technology     Facilities Planning     J. Fenwick
          into campus buildings     Admin. Computing     N. Snyder

11:15     Student Computer Labs     Instruction Tech.     J. Wilson
          Teaching podium demo

Noon     Lunch with President Merwin     B. Krell
           Executive Staff, Deans          

1:15 p.m.     Library Tour & Technology     Library     K. Hoeth

2:00     Academic Depts.     Sciences     C. Gray
          Foreign Language          C. Gray
          Business          D. Pegnetter

3:00     Student Affairs     Student Affairs     J. Shepard
          use of technology

3:45     Green Building     Ecological studies     John Fitch

4:30     University development     FGCU Foundation     C. Deluccia

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