MANSFIELD, PA– John Ulrich, Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, and Brad Lint, Associate Professor of English and US-China Exchange Coordinator, recently represented Mansfield University in China.
Lint traveled to Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Beijing to help incoming Mansfield University Chinese students prepare for their visa interviews.
In Chongqing, Ulrich
and Lint represented MU at the 2019 Sino-American CHEPD (Cooperation in Higher
Education and Professional Development) 1+2+1 Program Annual Conference. The
first day of the conference was devoted to two seminars: “How to Improve:
Issues, Solutions, and Models for Experimental Classes” and “Promoting Programs
in Music and Fine Arts: A Language Embracing All Languages.” The second day
featured the President’s Forum, which focused on celebrating the 40th
anniversary of Sino-US relations, as well as a panel discussion between
American and Chinese university leaders regarding trends, challenges, and
opportunities in higher education exchange.
During the
conference, Ulrich and Lint met with representatives of several Chinese partner
universities, including Changzhou Institute of Technology, Xi’an Music
Conservatory, University of Jinan, Guizhou University, and North China
University of Water Resources and Electric Power. They discussed agreements, course
articulation, Chinese student cohorts, delegation visits, and visiting scholar
arrangements.
At the 16th
Annual CHEPD 1+2+1 Graduation Ceremony, Ulrich presented MU diplomas to three
graduating Chinese students: Mengyue Huang, Business Administration, Ningbo
University of Technology; Congzheng Jia, Chemistry, Huaqiao University; and Xinlin
Wang, Graphic Design – Print Graphics, Nanjing University of Information
Science and Technology. Xinlin also received special recognition as
“Outstanding Graduate” for maintaining a GPA above 3.5.
Through the
1+2+1 dual degree transfer program, Chinese students complete their first year
of study at their home institution in China, their next two years at an
American partner university, and their final year back at their home
institution. The three MU students graduating this year completed all the requirements
for their degree programs at both Mansfield University and their home
institution in China, earning diplomas from each institution.
While in
Chongqing, Ulrich and Lint also met with MU alum Debbie Jennings (BA Political
Science ’17), who has been teaching English and studying Chinese in Chongqing
for the past year. Debbie attended the American-Chinese partner university
meet-and-greet, helping to promote Mansfield University.
Ulrich and Lint
were among 57 representatives from 24 American universities. They were joined
by 222 representatives from more than 100 Chinese partner universities. As a
member of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU),
Mansfield University has participated in the CHEPD 1+2+1 dual degree transfer program
since 2007. Each year, member universities are required to send a coordinator
and senior administrator to participate in visa orientations as well as the
conference and graduation ceremony.