Through its educational partnership with Sanda University in Shanghai, Rider University will welcome its first cohort of 23 undergraduate students and three faculty advisors from Sanda just prior to the start of the 2005 spring semester.

The 26 were granted visas by the U.S. Consulate in Shanghai by November 24.

“I want to express my appreciation to all those who have worked so diligently to make this important partnership a success,” said Rider President Mordechai Rozanksi. “This program provides a wonderful opportunity to advance our internationalization efforts and to foster global perspectives among our students and campus community. I know that our Sanda students will benefit greatly when they join our community in January.”

Under the partnership, Chinese students studying business will come to Rider for their junior year, return to Sanda to complete their undergraduate degree in global business and earn a dual Rider-Sanda degree. Through the 2005 spring semester, summer sessions and 2005 fall semester, they will take such courses as finance, social and legal environment of business, international marketing, international management and research composition writing. They are scheduled to return to China in mid-December 2005.

These students represent the partnership's first cohort. They are the strongest candidates of 68 in terms of academic achievement, English language skills and the ability to spend 11 months in the United States. Currently, sophomore and freshman cohorts at Sanda are preparing to follow the lead of the first cohort in future years.

"This program really has two main objectives," Tom Kelly, coordinator of the partnership and a primary liaison with Sanda officials, said. "One is to provide a global business perspective for the Sanda students. They are here to become more global in their approach to business and will be taught by expert business faculty in an AACSB-accredited business school. Their experience will be further enhanced through a variety of seminars and site visits with local businesses. At the same time, their presence will help provide a global perspective for our students and the campus community."

Dr. Phyllis Frakt, vice president for academic affairs and provost, first explored the opportunity when she visited Sanda University in 1998. On the trip, she toured five cities and spoke to individuals from ten colleges, schools and education commissions, and with individuals at the American Embassy in Beijing and the American Consulate in Shanghai. When she returned to Rider she recommended Sanda University as the most promising. Dr. Frakt then began working with Dr. Minmin Wang, professor of communication at Rider, and the College of Business Administration to follow up on this opportunity. Drs. Wang and Frakt initially discussed the possibility for the new program in 1998. Dr. Frakt then took the trip to China.

Subsequently, Associate Dean Kelly and Dr. Feng-Ying Liu, professor of finance, traveled to Shanghai in 1999 to develop the framework of the partnership. Sanda officials also visited Rider several times since 1998. Dr. Frakt announced the formation of the partnership in May 2002. Last summer, Drs. Linguo Gong, associate professor of management sciences, and Cynthia Newman, assistant professor of marketing, taught business courses at Sanda.

This past September Drs. James Castagnera, associate provost, and Gong traveled to Shanghai to help the students hopeful of attending Rider with the visa application process. They gave a PowerPoint presentation on the process to the students, conducted mock interview sessions and had face-to-face meetings with each applicant to determine requisite academic credentials, English-language skills and intent to return home after completion of study broad. They also visited with State Department officials to determine applicants' chances of receiving J-1 visas.

With the Sanda students and faculty advisors scheduled to arrive in seven weeks, much work is underway to welcome them to campus, provide a special two-three day orientation and help them get acclimated to a new culture. Each student has been assigned a Rider global business or business major as a student mentor and has a business faculty member as a dedicated advisor to ensure a smooth transition and a successful year.

A steering committee organized in September and chaired by Kelly has been instrumental in moving the partnership forward. Committee members are now planning the welcome of the Sanda students, ironing out student life adjustment issues, and publicizing the partnership. Subcommittee chairs are Dr. Castagnera, enrollment; Cindy Threatt, residence life; Dr. Susanna Monseau, academic affairs and student mentors; and Earle Rommel, publicity. Dr. Wang, involved with the partnership from the beginning, will hold weekly seminars with the students throughout the year. Other key participants are Jacqueline Simon, Education Enhancement Program; Stephanie Polak, residence life; Ira Sprotzer, assistant business dean; Diane Romulus, business school academic coordinator; Aimee Thomson, admissions counselor, and Michael Brogan, academic affairs.

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