Office of External Communications

Houston, TX 77204-5017 Fax: 713.743.8199

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 4, 2006

Contact: Eric Gerber
713.743.8189 (office)
713.617.7130(pager)
egerber@uh.edu

HOUSTON, January 4, 2006 – University of Houston President and UH System Chancellor Jay Gogue is joining a select group of higher education leaders attending the University Presidents Summit in Washington, D.C. Thursday and Friday, Jan. 5-6.

Gogue was invited to attend by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings, who are hosting the event. He is one of approximately 70 academic leaders invited to participate in this summit that will focus on attracting foreign students and scholars to study in the United States.

The University of Houston has traditionally enrolled a large contingent of international students. In fall 2005, for example, there were about 2,800 international students – nearly 8 percent of the total enrollment. Another 8 percent of the UH student body are immigrants who have been given permanent residence status. Students from more than 135 countries are currently enrolled at UH.

Among the topics likely to be discussed at the meeting taking place at State Department headquarters are preparing globally competitive U.S. students, identifying and attracting foreign talent, strategies for U.S. international education, foreign language and areas of study, and the regulatory environment affecting international students.

“Through this summit, Secretary Rice and Secretary Spellings and their respective departments want to reach out to college and university presidents to reinforce a common interest in attracting foreign students and scholars to U.S. institutions,” said Karen Hughes, undersecretary of state for public diplomacy and public affairs.

President George Bush also is expected to address the group.

For information about international students and scholars at UH, including an annual enrollment report, please visit http://www.issso.uh.edu/.

For information about President Gogue, please visit http://www.uh.edu/admin/president/.

For more information about UH visit the university’s ‘Newsroom’ at www.uh.edu/admin/media/newsroom.