Cochise College and Instituto Tecnológico de Agua Prieta administrators, seated, from left, ITAP Sub-director of Planning and Articulation Lucia Castro León, Director Dr. José Víctor García Castellanos, Cochise College President Dr. J.D. Rottweiler and Vice President for Administration Kevin Butler. Standing, from left, Douglas City Manager Carlos de la Torre, Mayor Danny Ortega, and several representatives from both college institutions.

DOUGLAS — Cochise College has established an agreement with the Instituto Tecnológico de Agua Prieta that will enable students from Sonora to enroll at Cochise College at the same tuition rates as students from Arizona, and vice versa.

Administrators from both colleges gathered Tuesday at the Cochise College Douglas Campus to shake hands and sign the agreement. The collaboration has been several years in the making.

Instituto Tecnológico de Agua Prieta Director Dr. José Víctor García Castellanos, left, and Cochise College President Dr. J.D. Rottweiler sign the exchange program agreement, linking the two institutions.

“Our futures are linked, and education is key,” said Cochise College President J.D. Rottweiler. “The success of Cochise County is directly linked to the success of Sonora. Our educational institutions must work together to ensure a bright future and quality of life for all of our citizens.”

The colleges formed the agreement in an effort to support academic, cultural and social benefits for citizens of both Mexico and the U.S., as well as to strengthen each institution’s programs, projects, activities and training opportunities.

Dr. José Víctor García Castellanos, Director of the Instituto Tecnológico de Agua Prieta, and four of his staff members toured the Douglas Campus, including a visit to the flight simulator, following the agreement signing. Tecnológico staff members hosted Cochise College administrators at their school in Agua Prieta earlier this year.

Instituto Tecnológico de Agua Prieta is part of a system of more than 200 colleges located throughout Mexico and offers programs in mechatronics, computers, electronics, industrial engineering, business management, accounting, administration and communications.

According to the agreement, Arizona residents who are eligible to enroll at Cochise College and pay in-state tuition rates can enroll at ITAP and pay the same tuition as students from Sonora. Likewise, residents from Sonora who are eligible to enroll at ITAP and pay in-state tuition are eligible to enroll at Cochise and pay the same tuition as students from Arizona.

Castellanos said the agreement will help his school in its mission to prepare students for the world beyond Agua Prieta. While reflecting on the collaboration’s impact on students from both sides of the border, Rottweiler noted that the agreement signing was taking place on his 46th birthday.

“My wife asked me what I was going to do on my birthday, and I said I was going to Douglas to sign an agreement with the potential to change the lives of thousands. What could be a better thing to do on my birthday?”

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