Corporate body

Yunnan Normal University

• Yunnan shi fan da xue

The exchange relationship between South Dakota State University and Yunnan Normal University was conceived by Dr. David Hilderbrand when he toured China with a group of chemistry professors in 1985. Dr. Hilderbrand met Professor Xie (pronounced Hsieh) from Yunnan Normal University. From this acquaintance, the idea evolved for collaboration to benefit faculty members and students. Consequently, an agreement to exchange professors for one term was developed and signed by university officials in 1986. / Yunnan Normal University President Wu Jicai and Yu Yanjin, head of the Foreign Affairs office, visited SDSU in 1987. (A schedule of events for their visit with a photograph of the visitors is included in this file.) / Fall term of that year, a professor from each university was on site as an exchange teacher at the partner institution. Other visitors and exchange professors followed. A list of the individuals who were exchange professors and family members who accompanied them is attached. / Following their teaching assignments in China, SDSU faculty members wrote reflections that were compiled into documents by the Office of Academic Affairs. The documents, which were updated and reissued in total, are as follows: / Visiting China, March 1989; Visiting China, October 1988, October 1990; China Exchange Program, October 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992; China Exchange Program, October 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992; July 1996 / The original submittals along with correspondence and other examples of the experiences are found in a separate folder entitled "Reflections." / The reports written by exchange professors Dr. Diane Rickerl (REFLECTIONS by DR. DIANE RICKERL at Yunnan Normal University Fall 1996) and Dr. Howard Woodard (Report on China Visit) following their exchange experiences in 1996 and 1997 were not published but are included with this collection. / Dr. Lyle Olson, exchange professor in 2001 published newspaper articles written during the exchange experience in a book "Cross-Cultural Adventure: A South Dakota Family in China" which accompanies these archival materials. / Dr. Robert Wagner, President of South Dakota State University, visited Yunnan Normal University in the summer of 1988. Other SDSU visitors at CNU, in addition to exchange professors, included Ms. MaryJo Lee who, accompanied by her husband Dr. Richard Lee, and their son, Douglas Lee, conducted research at YNU in the summer of 1997 (see separate RESEARCH REPORT). Ms. Harriet Swedlund, Director of International Programs, also visited briefly in June 1997. / A delegation from Yunnan Normal University came to South Dakota in September 1999. While on campus, signatures were placed on a revised agreement extending the relationship. See YUNNAN NORMAL UNIVERSITY OFFICIAL VISIT, a separate report of events of this visit. / The SDSU Office of International Programs, collaborating with the Foreign Affairs office at YNU, twice conducted Seminar Abroad in China. A group of 17 from SDSU led by President Peggy Gordon Miller, Provost and Vice President Carol J. Peterson and Dr. David Hilderbrand traveled to Kunming in 2000. A group of 7 faculty members led by David and Jan Evans with one student traveled in 2002. Reports of their activities are included with the collection of China material.

Kunming, People's Republic of China