Arizona International College hopes to enroll 250 next year

Wildcat File Photo Arizona Daily Wildcat "There has been controversy and there is no controversy now. It may be a 'wait-and-see' attitude, but we are well-supported." Paul Rosenblatt dean of AIC

Shortly after arriving at the University of Arizona in October 1997, Likins committed to moving AIC from southeast Tucson to the University of Arizona campus. He also was forced to find the school a new leader after UA professor Celestino Fernandez, AIC's provost, resigned.

Likins said the move gave AIC a chance to succeed. He also said that Paul Rosenblatt, its new dean, has been instrumental in building support for the college from UA faculty.

"Both have been successful. The movement to campus was necessary (because) the alternative was shutting it down," Likins said. "He (Rosenblatt) works well with the faculty. He works well with the university."

AIC, which was created initially to be a college within the UA and eventually gain independent accreditation, faced opposition from university faculty who disliked the contract structure it offered. The contracts are multi-year and do not include the possibility of tenure.

Rosenblatt, who has 40 years of UA experience as an English professor, dean of the now defunct liberal arts college and director of the Office of International Affairs, said he worked hard to elicit support from the UA faculty who opposed AIC.

"There has been controversy and there is no controversy now," Rosenblatt said. "It may be a 'wait-and-see' attitude, but we are well-supported."

The college's two new buildings, located on the southeast corner of North Cherry Avenue and East Helen Street, were completed last summer and occupied in early July. They are temporary structures and not expected to be AIC's long-term residence.

The liberal arts college had 150 students this year and is aiming to attract 100 new students for 1999, Rosenblatt said. With that and future anticipated growth, he said the new buildings could be used for three to four more years.

"They are very usable space," Rosenblatt said. "But how many more modules can you put in the parking lot ?"

AIC's original curriculum was designed for lower division students. This year, it added upper-division classes and next year will have a base of students in all four grades for the first time.

AIC also will graduate its first student this year. Yan Yan Meng, from China, will receive her BA in liberal arts.

Likins' original plan was to allow AIC a five-year incubation period before deciding on its future. He said he could not tell yet whether AIC would remain a college of the UA on campus or become a branch of the UA, like Sierra Vista.

"It doesn't need to stay on campus," Likins said. "It would be nice to reach a point where it can create an identity away from the campus. What they need is numbers, (which) need to continue to grow for them to succeed."

The UA president said the original goal of AIC going out on its own and receiving separate accreditation was "not likely to be realized."

Rosenblatt said the focus of his second year as dean of the college would be on recruiting and admissions.

The original goal for AIC was to reach an enrollment of 5,000 students. The dean said that although he would still like to reach that figure, his expectations have been tempered.

"One thousand students would be a potent argument for an independent liberal arts college," Rosenblatt said.

To find out more about Arizona International College, visit http://www.azintl.edu/.