SAN MARCOS, Texas — Texas State University wants to go international.
Members of the university's board of regents will vote this week on whether to approve a contract for "Texas State University Mexico." If approved, the private third-party contract would allow for an education facility in Querétaro, Mexico.
The campus would aim to create a collaboration of American-style education and teaching methodologies to Querétaro while teaching Texas State University-approved curriculum and awarding Texas State University degrees.
While Texas State would approve the curriculum and set admission requirements, the Mexican campus would supply the site and employee faculty and staff. Texas State would not have any say in hiring or firing faculty and staff.
According to the university's meeting agenda, the proposed contract would be for 10 years and $10 million. The agenda did not elaborate on further details.
The contract is expected to be "revenue generating," which would see Texas State University Mexico pay the San Marcos-based university $18 per semester credit hour in its first year. Those rates would increase over time.
The possible Mexico campus is just the latest example of the university trying to increase its international reach.
This summer, Texas State piloted a new student experience through a partnership with the University of Padova, Italy. The partnership allowed 32 students to enroll in a class while engaging with local students and culture. The goal of the experience is to keep the cost to less than $4,000 per student, including travel and tuition costs.
Texas State hopes to expand to Sorrento, Italy, Scotland, Spain, Costa Rica, and Australia in 2025.