St Louis Community College Forest Park campus President, Morris F. Johnson, visited China from March 8th until 21st 2007 with St. Louis Community College faculty, staff, and students. President Johnson signed two Exchange Agreements with Hunan Normal University and Hunan First Normal College to promote academic and cultural exchanges between the two institutions.
President Johnson appreciated the "life changing experience" he had from this study abroad trip. He decided to personally sponsor 20 students studying in China. President Johnson said: "We are the family, regardless the different races. There is only one race which is the human race. We all have the responsibility to help poor students."
Professor Grace Liu from English Department of St. Louis Community College at Forest Park is the instructor for this study abroad trip. Professor Liu said: "This trip has three major purposes: first is to sign agreements on Teacher and Student Exchange. Second, this is not a regular traveling trip, but it is a cultural learning course offered by St Louis Community College since 1998. The third, it is for the faculty exchange. President Johnson led four faculty members who stayed over in China to teach for 2 weeks.
This China learning experience is an important cultural immersion experience for SLCC faculty and students. Participants visited Shanghai, Suzhou, Wuxi, Hangzhou, Xian and Beijing. Most of the faculty and students thought visiting and having dinner with the Chinese family was the highlight of the trip. President Johnson said: "We need to work on getting more scholarships for our students and creating more opportunities for our students for the global experience." The China trip is one of the many study abroad trips St. Louis Community College offers every year. St. Louis Community College makes every effort to make the study abroad trips affordable and accessible to students. |
