Geneva College begins International Freshman Program in Shanghai

Innovative program designed to bring Chinese students to Beaver Falls campus

(Beaver Falls, PA) Following a landmark agreement in late 2016, Geneva College is working with New Channel International Education Group and Shanghai Zizhu International Education Park to provide an innovative International Freshman Program which could bring dozens of Chinese students at a time to the Beaver Falls, PA campus in pursuit of their Bachelor’s Degree. 

The cooperative liberal arts program for Chinese students is based on the expertise of New Channel International Education Group, which is the second largest for-profit English language school in China; the brand new, state-of-the-art academic and residence facility of Zizhu International Park in Shanghai; and the nearly 170-year history and tradition of Geneva as a Christian college with rigorous academic standards and a core curriculum designed to prepare students vocationally to think, write and communicate well in the world.

The new program follows a distinctive liberal arts curriculum in a 1 + 3 format with two tracks: STEM and business/social sciences. Chinese students will enroll beginning this fall in Shanghai, where two Geneva professors will teach at the Zizhu International Education Park. Professor Ryan C. McIlhenny instructs in liberal arts while Professor Jacquelyn R. Balchi teaches math and science. After one year of Geneva coursework with English instruction by New Channel faculty at Zizhu, Chinese students will come to the Beaver Falls campus for a 10-week summer session. The students will then complete their undergraduate degree at Geneva or other schools in the U.S. in the following three years.

Geneva’s President Calvin L. Troup traveled with representatives of the college to China to meet with partner representatives and sign the agreement in October 2016.  

Geneva President Dr. Calvin L. Troup with the CEO and President of New Channel International Education Group, Mr. Min Hu in October 2016, following the signing of a cooperative agreement to establish Geneva College (Shanghai).

Dr. Troup noted, “Our Chinese partners recognize the value of personal attention and chose Geneva precisely because we are a small school; they don’t want their students to get lost in a large university.”

Geneva College is a Christ-centered academic community that provides a comprehensive education to equip students for faithful and fruitful service to God and neighbor. Offering over 40 traditional undergraduate majors and programs, Adult Degree Programs with fully online and classroom options, and high-demand graduate degrees, Geneva's programs are recognized for their high quality. U.S. News & World Report ranks Geneva as a Top Three Best Value Regional University with one of the Top 100 engineering programs in the nation. Adhering to the truth of Scripture, a Geneva education is grounded in God’s Word as well as in a core curriculum designed to prepare students vocationally to think, write and communicate well in today’s world.

• More Geneva College (Shanghai) Program Information