NSU hosts visit by Chinese university faculty

(Tahlequah, Okla.)--While furthering an ongoing exchange of students and faculty, Northeastern State University recently hosted 12 visitors from Weifang University in Shandong Province, China, for a two-week certification program offered by NSU Continuing Education.

The guests from Weifang are members of the faculty and were in the U.S. to study NSU itself while simultaneously absorbing some of the culture of Tahlequah and northeastern Oklahoma.

"Each of the visitors represents a college program at Weifang," said Dr. Ron Cambiano, assistant professor of educational foundation leadership and accompanying the tour. "They came here to better understand our procedures and see how they might apply to their university. They took a comprehensive look at our practices from organization, programs and policies to faculty development, promotion, tenure practices and salary initiatives."

The Weifang faculty arrived in Oklahoma on August 6 and departed August 18. They visited NSU with the assistance of CIBT Education Group Inc., a Canada-based education management company. Visas were arranged through NSU's Office of International Programs.

"We hoped to offer them a perspective of the uniqueness of our university and the culture," Cambiano said. "Of tremendous benefit to Northeastern is the relationship we have with the Cherokee Nation and the communities we serve."

Because the trip is a certificate program it was arranged through Continuing Education, which offers non-credit classes and certifications. Rylee Ketcher, coordinator of continuing education, organized the itinerary.

"On August 17, we held a reception and present them with certificates of completion for leadership development in higher education," Ketcher said.

The faculty's schedule included a visit to the Cherokee Cultural Heritage Center, tours of all three NSU campuses, Tahlequah Public Schools and Bacone House, shopping, a float of the Illinois River, seminars and visits to classrooms and with members of the NSU cabinet.

"It was a tight schedule and there was some information overload both directions," Ketcher said. "I learned so much about their culture, and only one of them has ever been to the United States before. They adjusted to the U.S., but they learned a lot and they were very appreciative of everyone's time."

Cambiano said the visit was an opportunity to expand an important understanding between the universities and the nations of China and the U.S.

"We are preparing students who will be tomorrow's leaders and we live in a global society," he said. "The involvement of our faculty, deans and administrators with their counterparts in China is critical and we appreciate the opportunity."

For more information about the visit of Weifang University faculty to NSU call the Office of Continuing Education at 918-444-4610.