During the spring 2017 semester, Professor Ailing Qi of Xi’an University of Science and Technology in Xi’an in China joined the Mansfield University Department of Computer Information Science as a visiting scholar. Below are her thoughts on her time at Mansfield.
During my one semester as a visiting scholar from China,
I gained a very clear impression of Mansfield University. The school is located in beautiful north Pennsylvania. Mansfield is a small town surrounded by mountains and is very clean and peaceful. Many of the campus buildings are made of red brick, all framed by lovely green grass and trees. In the small hills behind the campus, you can see towering trees, scampering squirrels, and wandering deer. During the spring, flowers bloom, and in winter, everything is blanketed by snow. It is the perfect environment for studying and living.
Mansfield University is a long-established, well-known American university with abundant resources for students and all the advantages of a small liberal arts college, including safety, personalized learning, and a friendly and supportive academic culture.
The educational environment here is free and relaxed. Students can ask questions any time, teachers have excellent rapport with students, and students take responsibility for their own learning. Students focus on learning all the time, not just before tests, and they take their homework seriously, often staying up late at night to complete assignments.
Mansfield faculty are rigorous and well prepared. I was fortunate to be able to sit in on several faculty members’ courses to see American teaching methods firsthand. In his computer science classes, Professor John Phillips focuses on practical abilities and uses multimedia, helping students to easily understand programming language. In his world literature courses, Professor
Brad Lint uses group discussion, audio, video, and other teaching materials to promote active learning. In global history, Professor Jonathan Rothermel encouraged his students to ask me questions about China, which I thought was a wonderful demonstration of professionalism and respect for a visitor. Professor Philippe Savoye has a masterful teaching style and is able to help students firmly grasp complicated mathematical formulas in a relaxed manner.
Student life here is very colorful. There are over a hundred student organizations, and students can participate in television, radio, and newspaper editing and production. There are many sports events and music performances, so students enjoy a rich extracurricular life. Mansfield University also has a well-equipped fitness center with new equipment and recreational facilities. In addition to a large number of books, the library offers a public study room and discussion areas.
The people of Mansfield are friendly and passionate. The climate may be cold in winter, but the people’s hearts are always warm and inviting. The university is open and inclusive, and faculty and staff are humorous, humble, and easygoing. 
Dean (John) Ulrich, Professor (Brad) Lint, Marie Domenech, and others warmly welcomed and took excellent care of me, providing me with cozy living arrangements. The university also gave me my own individual office.
Even though the chair of my host department, Professor Jaesung Sim, was very busy, he always made time to chat with me and assist me whenever he could. Professor Yucong Liu was my mentor, and he was a great help every time I had questions.
The President of Mansfield University, President Fran Hendricks, even met with me personally more than once: he received me very cordially and regularly checked on my progress. It is clear to me that the people of Mansfield are what make it such a special place.
While at Mansfield, I gained a better understanding of the CHEPD 1+2+1 dual degree program, and how Chinese students participate in school activities, communicate with peers, and establish friendships. Their English improves very rapidly, and they learn to live independently. These skills will prove invaluable to them in the future. I also noticed that the university offers a lot of support to international students.
Although I was only here for one brief semester, I learned a great deal. Mansfield faculty and staff are dedicated and hardworking, and Mansfield students and enthusiastic and eager to excel. I made many friends here, and they showed me the positive spirit of this university. I believe Mansfield University has a brilliant future.