A delegation of legislators from the Southern Legislative Conference (SLC) traveled to Querétaro, Mexico, to gain insight into the first residential, American-style campus in the country. Participants toured and received briefings at Arkansas State University Campus Querétaro (ASUCQ).

At ASUCQ, delegation members toured the campus – completed in August 2017 – and were briefed on the challenges in building and designing a campus from the ground up. Participants also heard from Arkansas State University System officials regarding its establishment, accreditation and goals. Members also were briefed on the vision for the campus and surrounding area, including an industrial park, family housing, K-12 school system and city center, with the campus functioning as the community anchor. The costs of the campus, buildings and infrastructure were underwritten by investors in Mexico, with no outlay from Arkansas or the University System. 

Additionally, members had the opportunity to interact with students on the campus to learn about academic and residential life at ASUCQ, and how it compared to traditional higher education opportunities in Mexico. Faculty also shared their experiences regarding their work and teaching courses in a student’s second language, as all coursework is in English.

Corporate and community partners provided briefings on collaborations involving externships, training, laboratories, scholarships, donated equipment and guest lectures. Querétaro is home to over 1,300 multinational corporations and is considered the economic and industrial hub of central Mexico. 

Delegation members included legislators from Arkansas, Georgia and Kentucky.