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LBCC to partner with China

Ryan Henson
The Commuter

Friday, June 26, 2009

(MCT)

China, here we come.

LBCC administrators will visit China from July 23 until August 4 to talk with Chinese college presidents about student and faculty exchanges, according to Vice President of Student Affairs Bill Thallamer.

In order to take advantage of the relationships that began in April when the college hosted a delegation of Chinese college presidents, LB President Rita Cavin, Executive Vice president Carol Schaafsma, and Thallamer will visit the cities of Beijing, Qingdao, Guangzhou, and Shanghai

“Our hope is that we will see … a more culturally diverse student body, cultural opportunities for our faculty and students, and financial benefits that will support exchanges,” states Cavin in a campus-wide e-mail

Cavin states that LBCC would like to begin faculty exchange programs in 2009-10 and the first student exchange agreement would “likely” be with President Xinguang Feng of Rizhao Polytechnic College.

Students from Rizhao College would come to LBCC in the summer for up to four weeks, taking classes in English during the day and taking field trips in the evening. Part of the program would be to introduce students to our technical programs and encourage them to take part in future exchanges.

“This is a good beginning step …,” Cavin states.

Thallamer explained that when the exchange students visit, they will pay a higher tuition. School administrators would like to use that money to provide scholarships for LBCC students.

In addition, communication has also begun with Samaritan and Shanghai institute of Health Sciences, “an international, bi-lingual hospital” about exchanges of faculty and students interested in health careers.

“Our faculty and students would benefit by cooperative work experience, service learning, cultural enrichment … and exposure to traditional Chinese medicine,” Cavin states.

In the e-mail, Cavin says she has been asked to defend sending administrators to China during the current budget crisis. She explains that, although the “timing is not ideal,” the college wants to take advantage of the opportunity and maintain the relationships with the presidential delegation.

“We are carefully guarding our costs,” Cavin states. “We are actively seeking outside contributions and support …”

According to Cavin, Thallamer’s expenses will be picked up by China because he will be a conference speaker. Cavin and Schaafsma’s total travel costs, without outside contribution, are estimated from $3,500 to $5,000.

“It is our hope that a model investment this summer will set the foundation for an excellent continuing revenue source for many years to come,” Cavin states.

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