PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (April 18, 2024) – Houston is home to nearly 100 consulates, the third-highest concentration of consular offices in the U.S.
These diplomatic missions, smaller than embassies, primarily focus on assisting citizens of their home countries in the host country, promoting trade and tourism, and providing visa services. As with an embassy, when you enter a consulate, you are considered to be in that country’s territory.
Prairie View A&M University Office of International Programs is connecting the campus community with the consular community as part of its new Consular Tour Program. The consulate tour program is a “glocalization” effort to bring the world to PVAMU students.
This semester, Dr. Tammy Holmes, a professor in the Department of Languages and Communication, led a group of students, faculty and staff to the Consulate General of Colombia in Houston. During their visit, students were able to interview the Colombian consul, meet consulate staff and learn about the country’s culture, history and economy.
“We had such a warm welcome from the Consul and his staff,” said Holmes. “They prepared a thoughtful program for us, and I think it really opened students’ eyes. They loved it. On the way back to campus, they were asking where we’re going next.”
The tour included students who will be traveling to Colombia to study abroad this summer and members of the Panther Global Village Living Learning Community. Holmes and Dr. Godlove Fonjweng, executive director of the Office of International Programs, see opportunities for the whole campus to participate in consulate visits.
They hope to partner with faculty to take their classes, student organizations, LLCs, study abroad participants, and anyone who wants to get an introduction to another country close to home.
“Studying abroad is one way for students to gain a global perspective, but it’s not possible for all of our students. Not every person will travel internationally, and that’s okay,” said Fonjweng. “It’s the expansion of the mindset that matters. This is one way we can globally fortify our courses beyond the classroom, for students to interact with and learn from people from different parts of the world. It’s a passport-free domestic but international trip!”
Since 2015, PVAMU has been working to expand opportunities for students to experience more of the world around them by increasing study abroad offerings and developing partnerships with universities in other countries.
In addition to future consulate visits, Fonjweng also hopes to offer domestic trips to the United Nations in New York City, embassies and international development organizations in Washington, DC, including the National Office of the Peace Corps Organization, U.S. Agency for International Development.
Faculty and staff interested in leading domestic educational travel expeditions that expand students’ global perspectives can learn more at pvamu.edu/internationalprograms.
By Kelly Rusk
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