After 17 years away from NIU, Javier Del Carpio never thought he would return.

The inevitable came true when Del Carpio made his way back Thursday for a week’s worth of touring to see what NIU has to offer new students.

Now dean for the College of Engineering at the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos in Lima, Peru, Del Carpio visited various offices and officials on campus to discuss NIU’s retention rate and a new graduate exchange program that will bring three Peruvian students to DeKalb.

Upon his visit to NIU, Del Carpio stayed with George Gutierrez, community liaison on Latino student college preparation, who also accompanied Del Carpio on all of his tours.

Gutierrez’s and Del Carpio’s relationship goes back 17 years, when Gutierrez still was a counselor with minority programs and Del Carpio was a graduate finance major.

“I attended his graduation party,” Gutierrez said. “He proved it by sending me one of his pictures where I was right in the middle.”

Gutierrez said he was approached by Graduate School Dean Jerrold Zar two years ago to talk with UNMSM for the purpose of finding the best possible graduate students to diversify NIU’s staff.

“He thought I would be the best person to represent NIU,” Gutierrez said.

NIU’s faculty wanted to diversify their staff, so they sent him to find students with teaching experience to come to NIU for a Ph.D, Gutierrez explained.

Gutierrez visited UNMSM in summer 2001 for three weeks. Not knowing Del Carpio was a dean there, Gutierrez’s first contacts were with the UNMSM president and Juan Arroyo, dean for UNMSM’s College of Chemical Engineering. Gutierrez later connected with Del Carpio.

After getting his bachelors in industrial engineering at Peru University, Del Carpio received his masters of finance from NIU’s College of Business, which was 17 years ago.

“I had a great opportunity to work as a research assistant for Dr. Scott Bauman,” Del Carpio said. “In those days he was chair of the Financing Department.”

Del Carpio was happy with his DeKalb visit.

“NIU has changed a lot since I’ve been here. I believe that NIU, with confidence, will help students in their first year,” he said. “There are many offices at NIU that support students.”

Del Carpio also was impressed with the changes NIU has underwent since his days here.

“I had the chance to visit the new building for the College of Business, Barsema Hall. That building is really wonderful,” he said. “It has state-of-the-art equipment for any students who want to pursue a business degree.”

Professor Romualdas Kasuba, dean for the College of Engineering Technology, gave Del Carpio and Gutierrez a tour of the Engineering Building Wednesday.

“It is state-of-the art if you want to pursue an engineering degree,” Del Carpio said.

Kasuba said 70 percent of their graduate students were international students, and one of their professors received his masters from NIU after also receiving his bachelors in Peru.

While on tour, Del Carpio brought his camcorder along to bring back some of what the Engineering Building has to offer to his students in Peru.

“I want to take advantage of this opportunity to invite all NIU students to visit Lima, Peru, especially if you come to the University of San Marcos.”

The contract for the exchange program was finalized this May.

“The agreement says Northern will help and support three Peruvian students coming in,” Gutierrez said.

Today is the last day of meetings for Del Carpio. He leaves for Peru Thursday.

“I’m really quite satisfied with my visit to NIU.”

Del Carpio found out on Wednesday that his daughter, Sylvia Del Carpio, was admitted as an NIU undergrad for the next school year.

Del Carpio said he will give this piece of advice when she attends NIU:

“Try hard, because NIU is a really good university.”