Led by Ball State President Blaine A. Brownell, several faculty and staff will travel in Turkey Sept. 30 to Oct. 9.

"We expect President Brownell's first visit to Turkey will elevate our already strong and long-lasting relationship with alumni to new and fruitful levels," said Erdogan Kumcu, marketing professor and Istanbul Exchange Program director.

"The Turks are known for their warm hospitality and have repeatedly demonstrated that during our visits to their country," he said. "We hope that our Turkish alumni can establish scholarships and other financial aid programs for future Turkish students to study at Ball State."

Umit Taftali, a 1985 Ball State graduate and a European investment banker, is coordinating the visit. Under his direction, alumni throughout Europe are being invited to meet the Ball State representatives Oct. 4-6 in Istanbul.

The trip is part of an annual exchange program between Ball State and the University of Istanbul that dates back to 1984.

The exchange program has established academic and professional relationships between the two universities. Cultural, social and historical visits enable participants to collect and prepare new course material and share experiences with students and colleagues.

Over the years Ball State faculty have conducted a wide range of activities related to their own fields, including studying urban air quality, Islamic paradise gardens, Byzantine art and architecture, urban design, Middle Eastern fiction and the use of technology by the Turkish university.

Dozens of Turkish students also have received their undergraduate and graduate degrees at Ball State as part of the exchange program.

Joining Brownell and Kumcu during the trip will be Martin Limbird, director of international advancement, and Mardi Brownell, the president's wife.

(NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information, contact Kumcu at ekumcu@bsu.eduor (765) 285-5186. Limbird may be reached at mlimbird@bsu.eduor (765) 285-8129.)