SHSU Signs International Agreement
With Chinese Company

From left, Payne, Liu, Gaertner

The university and Sichuan Dipont Visa Information Services Co. Ltd. in China have signed an agreement to establish policy and procedures for Chinese students to attend the university's courses and programs.

"We are delighted to formalize this agreement with Sichuan Dipont," said David Payne, SHSU's vice president for academic affairs. "We look forward to enhancing the diversity of our campus by bringing an increasing number of students from southwest China."

Signing the international agreement at Sam Houston State University last week were James F. Gaertner, president of the university, and Luxia Liu, an SHSU graduate student from China majoring in secondary education, who was authorized to represent Sichuan Dipont.

According to Liu, approximately 30 Chinese students from mainland China currently attend SHSU. Under the new international agreement, officials hope to see that number increase soon. Most of the current Chinese students attending Sam Houston State are graduate and doctoral students majoring in physics, computer science, political science, applied math, education, criminal justice, biology, and business administration.

Under the terms of the international agency agreement, Sam Houston State will provide educational services to the students nominated by Sichuan. Sichuan has the exclusive rights in advertising the university through media including newspapers, educational journals, lectures, and educational exhibitions and will promote the university in China for the purpose of nominating international students for entry into SHSU programs.

Sam Houston State will provide advertising materials, course and fee information, living costs and visa information and will assist with Sichuan's students' visa applications.

The initial period of the agreement is for two years, and either party may terminate the agreement by giving 90 days notice in writing. Prior to the end of the two-year period, both parties will review the agreement. If both parties agree to continue the cooperation, the agreement will be renewed for another two-year period.

The agreement does not limit the right of Sam Houston State to recruit international students directly from China, or where it chooses to do so, or to receive students nominated through companies other than Sichuan in other parts of China, excluding specified areas of southwest China.

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SHSU Media Contact: Julia May
Nov. 1, 2001
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