News and Events Archives 2007

Dr. Yin Yibin, Executive Associate Dean for the School of Biosystem Engineering and Food Science of Zhejiang University, visited MSU’s Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering on June 14, along with two of his graduate students. Last year the departments signed an agreement to launch a 3+1 joint education program on biosystems engineering.

From June 10 – August 10, 2007, with support from MSU’s English Language Center (ELC), the Office of China Programs conducted a pilot English training program at its office in Beijing.  Ten students, provisionally admitted by MSU, enrolled in the program. ELC instructor Stephanie Shinault taught the class. This pilot program provided rich experiences for the students and lessons for us to run such programs in China in the future.

MSU Professor Trey Rogers and his colleagues visited Beijing from September 5 – 12, 2007. The purpose of the visit was to plant seeds in the module field for the 2008 Olympics Games. In May 2007, MSU won the contract from China Sports Industry Group (CSI) to provide consultant services in construction of a portable athletic field in the National Stadium for 2008 Olympic Games. This trip is one of the several scheduled trips to help CSI build the field. The portable athletic field will be moved into the National Stadium in August 2008 immediately after the opening ceremony of the games.   

On September 18, 2007, MSU’s President Simon met with 21 students from the first cohort of the MSU – China joint education program on Turfgrass Management. These students arrived at MSU in early September, took two weeks of classes at MSU and then went to different locations in the country for five-month internships. This is the first joint education program MSU developed with China. This cohort of students will graduate in June 2008

Dr Frank Fear, Senior Associate Dean of MSU’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, attended Suzhou Polytechnic Institute of Agriculture’s (SPIA) 100th Anniversary celebration as a representative of MSU.  Dr. Fear was asked to give a greeting speech, not only representing MSU, but also all the foreign guests from Japan, Italy and the Netherlands. SPIA is the oldest agricultural school in Jiangsu Province. MSU established an exchange relationship with SPIA in 2000 and signed the agreement to launch a joint education program on Turfgrass management in 2003. Dr. Fear also met and talked with students enrolled in the joint education program.

Dr. Mary Mundt, Dean of MSU’s College of Nursing and Dr. Teresa Wehrwein, Assistant Dean of the college, visited Chongqing Medical University from Nov. 28 – 30, 2007. During the visit, a formal cooperative agreement between MSU and Chongqing Medical University was signed. The Nursing Colleges from the two universities will initiate a series of student and faculty exchange programs next year.