UND to sign exchange agreement with Russia UND will sign an exchange agreement with Alexander I. Herzen University in St. Petersburg, Russia, at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 12, in the office of the provost and vice president for academic affairs, third floor, Twamley Hall. Vladimir Laptev, vice rector for the Alexander I. Herzen University and Greg Weisenstein, UND provost and vice president for academic affairs, will sign the exchange agreement. Dr. Laptev has served as the vice rector for the Alexander I. Herzen University for over 18 years. He is a leading figure in higher education in the Russian Republic and is responsible for overseeing all advanced degree programs in the nation. Vice Rector Laptev has his doctorate and post doctorate in physics. Leeka Lapteva [in Russian, the "a" denotes feminine gender; it is permissible to use the name without the "a"], Dr. Laptev’s wife, also has her degrees in physics and is the principal of three international schools in St. Petersburg. Her schools enjoy a global reputation for their quality of teaching, innovative teaching techniques, and organization. The international schools integrate students from many different countries with students from the St. Petersburg region. The University of North Dakota is the only university that the Laptevs are visiting. They are working with administration and staff of UND to develop exchange programs and collaborative scientific research.