Feb. 25 - Rider, Sanda Officials Sign Communications Program Agreement

LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – Rider University and Sanda University have agreed to work on extending their partnership to allow Sanda students to earn a dual Rider-Sanda degree in communication.

Members of both the Rider and Sanda staffs along with Sanda President Ji Yuan and Rider President Mordechai Rozanski met Thursday and Friday (February 24-25) on the Lawrenceville campus to formally sign an agreement to develop this new partnership.

“We are delighted to build on our successful joint program in global business to include a communication program,” President Rozanski said.  “This growing and mutually beneficial relationship enhances educational opportunities for talented students at both our institutions.  It also contributes positively to Sanda’s vision of international partnerships and to Rider’s commitment to fostering global perspectives among our students.”

President Yuan praised the growing relationship between Sanda and Rider. He said, “The partnership is to promote the development of education in both countries. Our joint cooperation will be beneficial to both universities.  I’m sure the joint program between Rider and Sanda will grow in reputation and contribute to society.”

The communication program partnership is designed in the same fashion as the global business program. Sanda students will come to Rider for their junior year to study for a period of one year and then return to Sanda to complete their undergraduate degree and earn a dual Rider-Sanda degree. Communication faculty will join business faculty in teaching at Sanda.

Almost 500 majors and minors are enrolled in Rider’s highly-regarded communication program that includes tracks in business and professional speech, interpersonal communication, journalism, radio and television, public relations, and multimedia fields. The communication department also has a minor in advertising and will soon add a seventh concentration in graphic design.

“Rider is continually impressed with the vision and leadership of our colleagues at Sanda,” said Dr. Phyllis Frakt, vice president for academic affairs and provost at Rider who was instrumental in establishing the partnership. “With impeccable academic credentials and careful planning, they have built a new campus with a goal of preparing students to participate in shaping the future of China. Their students will benefit greatly from their experience here, and our students will gain a heightened global perspective.”

The first cohort of 23 Sanda students arrived in January just before the start of the second semester and is immersed in their global business studies. They will continue their studies through the summer and fall and return to China in December.  Currently, sophomore and freshman cohorts at Sanda are preparing to follow the lead of the first cohort at Rider in future years.  Sanda expects to start a new freshman communication cohort in September 2005.