ASU Mexico Campus Now Focusing On 2016 Kickoff

A series of unanticipated challenges with providing sufficient infrastructure, like water and power to the proposed Queretaro campus site, have led Arkansas State University’s Mexico partners to request a new 2016 opening date, ASU System Chancellor Tim Hudson said Thursday.

The Mexico campus was originally planning to open for classes in fall 2015.

“We and our partners in Mexico remain 100 percent committed to this campus,” Hudson said. “Everyone knew the initial timeline for construction was aggressive.”

The university’s work on the project with curriculum and student services is on schedule. However, the university is fully supportive of the additional time to work on the project, Hudson said.

“This is a large and complex undertaking,” Hudson said in a statement. “We completely understand the situation and remain excited about the opportunities ahead.”

Project director Dr. Yvonne Unnold will continue to work on the project as needed, while also handling her role as chair of the Department of World Languages and Cultures in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Officials with Arkansas State University CQ (ASUCQ), a Mexican private business foundation, and ASU broke ground for the $50 million, privately funded campus Feb. 20.

The campus will be the first comprehensive U.S. public university built in Mexico.

The Queretaro campus will use the university’s brand and logo as well as the university’s curriculum.

Courses will be taught in English by credentialed faculty approved by Arkansas State.

The campus is being designed to accommodate up to 5,000 students, with a goal of 1,000 students in the first year, university officials said.

ASU is using funds generated from private gifts for startup costs, while ASUCQ will underwrite any operating deficits for up to three years after course offerings begin.

The university will ultimately receive a percentage of the revenues.