UIC students at the Granite Falls Rodeo
Sixteen Chinese students from the United International College (UIC) in Zhuhai, China, are currently in the middle of a month-long stay at Gustavus Adolphus College.
The students are taking a class from Gustavus Associate Professor of Communication Studies Phil Voight that is intended to hone their English skills as well as their public speaking and debate techniques.
The students also have a calendar full of field trips aimed at providing entertainment as well as opportunities to learn about Minnesota history and Native American culture. During their stay from June 23 through July 21, the students will have the opportunity to visit the Minnesota State Capitol, Valleyfair, and the Mall of America. They will also attend a St. Paul Saints baseball game, a rodeo, a pow wow, a county fair, and a performance of A Streetcar Named Desire at the Guthrie Theatre. The group will also venture out on a camping trip on the Mississippi River.
Gustavus and UIC signed a four-year reciprocal student exchange agreement in October of 2007. Several Gustavus faculty members have also taken advantage of the relationship between the two institutions. Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science Michael Hvidsten spent the 2009-10 academic year teaching at UIC. Professors of Theatre and Dance Michele Rusinko and Amy Seham have plans to spend time at UIC during their upcoming sabbaticals.
UIC is the first fully sanctioned liberal arts college to be created in China since the early 20th century. UIC opened in the fall of 2005 and now offers 16 undergraduate programs to more than 4,000 students.
###
Media Contact: Director of Media Relations and Internal Communication Luc Hatlestad
luch@gustavus.edu
507-933-7510