Indiana State University President Lloyd W. Benjamin III has become the first American and only the third person ever to receive Morocco’s top education honor. The honor bestowed Monday comes in recognition of Benjamin’s — and ISU’s — long-standing commitment to help modernize the country’s system of higher education.
Benjamin, who is in Morocco to implement a significant step in developing a nationwide higher education accreditation system informed by U.S. models, was presented with an honorary doctorate in international relations from Hassan II University-Mohammedia at the conclusion of his visit. The presentation took place before a gathering of dignitaries from throughout the region, including representatives from the U.S. Embassy and U.S. Consulate in Morocco, the Moroccan Ministry of Education, governors of the Casablanca region and presidents from several universities. “I am truly honored to receive this award on behalf of the many administrators, faculty and students of Indiana State University who have helped grow our cutting-edge collaboration into an initiative that will help modernize an entire country’s system of higher education,” Benjamin said.
C. Jack Maynard, ISU’s provost and vice president for academic affairs; Brad Balch, dean of the College of Education; and El-Houcin Chaqra, associate director of ISU’s International Affairs Center, joined Benjamin in attending a weeklong conference in Morocco that included government-level workshops with the goal being the completion of a study providing recommendations for designing and implementing a system of accreditation in Morocco.
Since September 2002, the university has maintained an active, comprehensive and growing relationship with Hassan II University. What began as an initial partnership focusing on joint degrees, cross-cultural exchanges and various research projects grew into an effort by ISU leaders to develop a first-ever system of accreditation for the country’s higher education system.
Currently, Morocco operates on a French-based system with no accreditation process. As the result of the exchange program for higher education leadership in which Moroccan educators spent time at ISU and ISU leaders did likewise, the Moroccans decided to move forward to develop a nationwide accreditation system, with ISU as their partner. This project also has been supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development. “More important than any award or honor is the proud legacy Indiana State University will always have in helping a great nation and longtime American ally modernize its nationwide system of higher education,” Benjamin said. “I’m confident that this partnership will only continue to grow stronger in the years to come and lead to even greater successes.”
In addition to ISU’s role in developing the accreditation system, the university has launched a number of other projects since the collaboration was first signed more than five years ago in September 2002. Other ongoing initiatives include establishing a social work program and, in effect, the profession of social work in Morocco, largely from the efforts of professor Robyn Lugar of ISU and ongoing student and faculty projects and exchanges.
In addition to providing valuable insight and resources to Morocco’s education accreditation process, Benjamin also has worked to advance foreign relations between the United States and Morocco. Benjamin submitted written testimony to the U.S. International Trade Commission on the benefits of a free trade agreement with Morocco, citing the positive relationship the university had established with Hassan II.
Benjamin also encouraged Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, to intervene on behalf of the 404 Moroccan prisoners held by the Algerian-backed Polisario movement, some of whom had been detained for nearly 20 years. Lugar traveled to Algeria at the request of President Bush and facilitated the release of the prisoners in August 2005.
Local & Bistate
ISU president receives high Moroccan honor
- Local & Bistate
-
-
Friends of Ernie Pyle takes ownership, renames Dana museum
The western Indiana home in which renowned Hoosier journalist Ernie Pyle was born, and an adjacent museum dedicated to preserving his legacy as a World War II correspondent, have a new owner.
-
Spreading Goodwill
Goodwill Industries Inc. on Tuesday opened its third Terre Haute store.
-
Feds sending money to Feather Creek
Clinton residents have reason to celebrate.
Federal officials have granted more than $800,000 toward a $1.2 million project of widening and deepening Feather Creek, which has been a flooding problem in the city since the Great Depression. Work could begin in spring 2013. -
City to clean up Toney site
A contaminated petroleum site at the northwestern edge of Indiana State University’s campus will be transferred to the city of Terre Haute to remove the property from a pending sale.
-
Bennett: Terre Haute ‘moving in the right direction’
After four years of shrinking budgets and a slow economy, Terre Haute is “moving in the right direction,” Mayor Duke Bennett said Tuesday morning in his first “State of the City” address since being re-elected by Terre Haute voters in November.
Difficult financial and political battles are largely in the past, he said, and now the city can start moving forward in ways not possible in the past four years. -
Terre Haute group locates missing caver
An Iraq war veteran and caving enthusiast took his own life about half a mile from where he left his car on a rural road but more than four months passed before four young spelunkers exploring where they weren’t allowed found him deep inside a treacherous cave, Indiana conservation officers said Tuesday.
-
Schools celebrate rising graduation rates as ‘team effort’
For the fourth year in a row, Vigo County School Corp. graduation rates have topped the state average, school district officials said during a news conference Tuesday.
-
Arrested officer already on administrative leave
A summons to appear in Vigo Superior Court 1 has been issued to the former police chief of West Terre Haute after a theft case filed Monday was transferred from a different court.
-
Parade to honor Punter for N.Y. Giants
A parade has been scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Friday to honor Terre Haute native Steve Weatherford, a punter with the Super Bowl champion New York Giants.
-
DNA match leads to arrest in summer burglary
A recent DNA match in an Indiana database has led to the arrest of a burglary suspect by the Indiana State Police at Putnamville.
-
Authorities still looking into Monday shooting of teen
Investigation continues into a shooting Monday in the 600 block of Water Street, which is near the Wabash River on the city’s west side.
-
General Assembly ready to tackle legislative bottleneck
After a timeout to accommodate out-of-town Super Bowl visitors, the Indiana General Assembly is back in session to tackle legislation that had been bottlenecked by a contentious labor bill.
-
Shakeout helps prepare for earthquake
Drop. Cover. Hold on! Those are the directives for the Great Central U.S. ShakeOut, a multi-state earthquake drill that happened Tuesday morning.
-
Bolte Taylor exhibit will feature 5-foot-tall brains
An Indiana brain scientist whose memoir about her recovery from a stroke became a best-seller has dreamed up an exhibit featuring giant brains that will be mounted around Bloomington this spring.
-
Feather Creek project gets green light from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Federal officials have granted the funding needed to widen Feather Creek in Clinton.
-
Lost Creek trustee exploring possibility of providing computer lab for residents
A mobile computer lab has come to the Lost Creek Township Trustee’s Office to assist the public in job searches and applying for assistance programs.
-
Vigo schools see grad rate rise
The Vigo County School Corp. 2011 graduation rate improved nearly 4 percentage points and surpassed the state graduation rate, according to information from the state Department of Education.
-
Among Super Bowl ads, the stars were the cars
Lots of dogs and babies appeared in commercial advertisements for Super Bowl XLVI, but game-day ads also increasingly are pointing to social media handles, such as Twitter and Facebook.
-
Host city hopes its experience is a game winner
If praise and adulation could put points on the scoreboard, then Indianapolis had a blowout victory hosting its first Super Bowl.
-
Local news briefly: Feb. 7, 2012
• Woman faces arson charge
• Mother jailed on abuse charge
• New trial date for suspect
• Woman's arson trial July 10
• Child pornography trial set
-
West Terre Haute officer arrested on theft charges
A West Terre Haute police officer is facing allegations of misusing his department-issued gasoline credit card.
-
Teen hospitalized after shooting
The Terre Haute Police Department reported late Monday that a 16-year-old Terre Haute youth was flown via helicopter ambulance to an Indianapolis hospital after an accidental shooting. The extent of the youth’s injuries were not available late Monday night.
-
Rush to hospital leads to wreck on I-70
A motorist reportedly speeding to get to an Indianapolis hospital ended up getting medical treatment himself after a Monday morning crash on Interstate 70 near the 37-mile marker.
-
Fog a factor in West Terre Haute accident
Heavy fog contributed to a two-vehicle accident involving a West Terre Haute patrolman at 7:21 a.m. Monday.
-
BREAKING NEWS: West Terre Haute police officer arrested
A West Terre Haute police officer is facing allegations of felony theft.
-
SUPER BOWL XLVI: Super to the very end
A wild and record-setting Super Bowl week was capped Sunday with the New York Giants winning their fourth title game. But the host city of Indianapolis was a winner as well.
-
SUPER BOWL XLVI: Businesses see more carry out than carrying on during big game
Home delivery action was hotter than wing sauce Sunday afternoon, as football fans dipped in for the big game.
-
SUPER BOWL XLVI: Airport traffic increases as game day arrives
It isn’t every Sunday afternoon that jets line the runway at the Terre Haute International Airport, but many in town wouldn’t mind if they did.
-
SUPER BOWL XLVI: Game helps church connection with its community
Inside Maryland Community Church Sunday evening, it seemed downright un-patriotic to pray for anyone but the Giants.
-
Rose-Hulman’s SADD games teach important lessons
Basketballs bounced about the gymnasium floor Saturday as middle school students learned alternatives to negative behavior.
- More Local & Bistate Headlines
-
Friends of Ernie Pyle takes ownership, renames Dana museum
Former Komen Exec Defends Funding Cut
Worker Tells 911: Powell 'exploded the House'
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
Triple Win: Santorum Takes Minn., Mo., Colo.
Jury Selection for Ex-UVa Athlete Enters 2nd Day
Eastwood in Super Bowl Ad 'Compassionate'
Calif. Gay Marriage Ban Ruled Unconstitutional
Raw Video: Giants Celebrate Another Super Bowl
Eastwood in Super Bowl Ad 'Compassionate'
Cab Driver Helps Wis. Family Escape House Fire
Greek Leaders Seek Deal As Bankruptcy Looms
No Rape Charges Against Son of NYPD Commissioner
Injured Marine Inspired by Homecoming
Romney Congratulates Santorum, Focuses on Obama
Bernanke: Recovery Depends on Consumer Spending
And the Winner for Best Super Bowl Ad Is...
Foreclosures Down 34 Percent in 2011
Egypt's Ruling Generals Play Risky Game With US
Parade for the New York Giants Super Bowl Champs
Stranded Fishermen Rescued From Bay of Green Bay
The NY Giants Defend Gisele
Mo. Teen Gets Life Sentence for Killing Girl, 9
Beyonce Is Sexy in Sequins
Helmet Camera Captures Calif. Fire Rescue
Model's Shocking 20-Inch Waist
Better than Tebowing, it's Bradying - 2/7
Maria Menounos in Giants Bikini After Losing Bet
Zip-Lining Man Slams Into Tree
TLC's 'Strangest Addictions Yet'?
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Snooki Admits She's Bisexual
Katharine McPhee Strips Down
Raw Video: 15 Lb. Baby Born in China
Ellen DeGeneres Slams One Million Moms
Vending Machine Dispenses 'Morning-After' Pill
Rihanna in Super Sheer Bodysuit
Entire staff removed at L.A. elementary school
Exclusive: Giants Players Talk About Excitement Around 2012 Super Bowl Victory Parade
