On Monday, June 19, Seton Hill University in Greensburg, Pa. will formalize an agreement with Beijing Union University to develop Seton Hill University degree programs which will be taught on Beijing Union’s campus. (This is the second such agreement signed by Seton Hill in recent months. On April 5, Kede College of the Capital Normal University in Beijing and Seton Hill finalized efforts to offer a Seton Hill business entrepreneurial degree at Kede College as a second degree for students already possessing a degree in English.) Signing the agreement to establish a sister-school relationship will be Professor Sun Quan, vice president, Beijing Union University and Dr. JoAnne Boyle, president of Seton Hill University. Also attending will be Professor Gu Zhiliang, dean, College of Management, Beijing Union University; Ms. Teng Xiangdong, director, Human Resource Management Department, Beijing Union University; Ms. Pang Ming, director, International Exchange and Cooperation Department, Beijing Union University; Mr. Yin Fubin, vice-director, Student Affairs Department, Beijing Union University; local legislators and members of the Seton Hill community. This event is not open to the public.

The signing ceremony demonstrates that Beijing Union University and Seton Hill University have formalized their commitment to providing joint educational programs. Under consideration are an undergraduate business degree program and a master’s of business administration degree program, both developed by Seton Hill and taught at Beijing Union University. Students enrolled in either program would have the benefit of professors from Beijing Union University and Seton Hill University, and would earn a joint baccalaureate degree from Beijing Union University and Seton Hill University and/or a Seton Hill University graduate degree. Also under discussion are joint research projects, student and professor exchange programs, and the possible creation of a Confucius Institute at Seton Hill. (Confucius Institutes are non-profit public institutes run by the National Office for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language that are dedicated to promoting Chinese language and culture and supporting local Chinese teaching.)

Seton Hill University President JoAnne Boyle, a former chair of the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh, believes that cooperative ventures such as the one with Beijing Union University are a necessary part of higher education today. According to Dr. Boyle, “every member of the academic community should be an informed global citizen.”

“We encourage our students to travel, to experience different cultures first hand and learn from them,” says Dr. Mary Ann Gawelek, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the faculty at Seton Hill. “Formalizing relationships with schools such as Beijing Union University makes it easier for our students to learn from different cultures even as it helps us to reach out to students from different parts of the world. I hope that we will begin having student groups study Chinese language and culture at Beijing Union during Seton Hill’s January Term as early as 2007.”

In addition, notes Dr. Terrance DePasquale, dean of graduate and international programs at Seton Hill, “establishing joint programs in China is a natural extension of the University’s mission to provide access to educational opportunities to underserved populations.”

Drs. Gawelek and DePasquale have spent two years designing joint programs and developing relationships with the two Beijing Universities, and are currently in discussions with several institutions outside of the Beijing area. Kede College will begin admitting students to its new Seton Hill business entrepreneurial degree program in fall 2006.

Contacts:

Dr. Mary Ann Gawelek, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty
724-838-4217 / gawelek@setonhill.edu

Dr. Terrance DePasquale, Dean of Graduate and International Programs
724-838-4256 / depasquale@setonhill.edu

Molly Robb Shimko, Director of Media Relations
724-830-4620 / shimko@setonhill.edu

Note to photographers/editors/reporters: The signing ceremony will take place at 2:15 p.m. in the 2nd floor parlors of the Administration Building on Seton Hill’s Greensburg, Pa. campus. This ceremony is not open to the public, but all members of the media are welcome to attend.