Presbyterian College to offer students Chinese language courses, visit to People's Republic

Nov. 21, 2006

Presbyterian College's historic relationship with Guizhou University in the People's Republic of China will engage college students in new and exciting ways beginning in 2007.

With the return of Guizhou University professor Mao Jianlin to teach Chinese language next spring, PC will offer three levels of instruction in Chinese and a rare opportunity to explore the culture of one of the world's oldest and most important countries.

Mao, the director of Guizhou's foreign affairs department, will be back on the PC campus for the spring 2007 semester and also will teach Chinese during the entire 2007-08 academic year.

PC's incoming Class of 2007 may take advantage of this groundbreaking program. Fifteen of the freshmen taking Chinese will be selected for a fleximester travel course to China during the summer of 2008. These Chinese scholars will receive grants to help defray the cost of this language and cultural immersion experience. Priority, however, is being given to students who submit their completed applications to PC before Jan. 31, 2007.

PC faculty also are working on a Chinese studies minor to expand academic offerings, a move that would only further strengthen the relationship between the college and Guizhou University.

College provost Dr. Robert Holyer said the potential for PC students to participate is great and exciting.

"One of the goals of a Presbyterian College education is to prepare our students to live, work, and serve in a global community," he said. "China is becoming an increasingly important part of this global community. The program we are developing with Guizhou University plays an important role in our curriculum and offers our students especially good preparation for their future endeavors."

The program also provides an attractive and unique opportunity for future students, according to dean of admissions and financial aid Leni Patterson.

"I believe the opportunity to study Chinese language and to travel to study the Chinese culture as a student at Presbyterian College would be attractive to many good students looking for a wide range of opportunities at a quality liberal arts college," she said. "We are proud to be able to offer this opportunity to members of the freshman class in fall 2007."