Capstone Info
  • Capstone Cost, Credits, Etc.
    • Cost of Attendance
    • Notes on COA’s from Nanjing Site (provided by Conner Clark while on site in 2015)
      • Fall Expenses at Nanjing (provided by Conner Clark while on site)
        Capstone Nanjing Costs
        Expense Amount
        飞机票 USD2323
        六个月房租 USD4318
        房地产中介费 USD260
        体检 USD70
        居留证 USD65
        南京SIM卡 USD17
        6month cell service (cheapest) 中国联通 USD45
        去南京的高铁 USD37
        6month wifi USD200
        Study Abroad Direct Enroll Tuition USD3498
        Direct Enroll Fees USD5200
        Total USD11404

        “Regarding the housing, mine’s 3800元／月 which is, from what I’ve heard, about average among the students this time. The cheapest I’ve heard is about 3200/3400, and the most expensive I’ve heard is 4300/4400.”

        Capstone Internship is 3 credits. You’ll be charged for 3 UM credits (currently $874.50) plus $250 for semester-long insurance

    • Credits

      If you are earning the Capstone credits (CHIN 598 and 596) then the grades are Pass-Fail. But in the past when students have earned credit other than those two courses, such as INST, then they earn ABCDF grades. Study Abroad sets up the Capstone credits for 5th year students who don’t need grades, but those who are going in their 3rd year may earn grades (or any student who needs something other than the Capstone credits).

      Study Abroad uses WES to determine the grades. You can see the grade conversion here:
      https://applications.wes.org/country-resources/

      • Fall
        • Nanjing

          Students at Nanjing earn 12-15 credits for fall. They typically take 2 direct-enrollment courses at the university and another 3 language courses through the Flagship Nanjing Center.

          Beijing

          Students at Beijing earn 12-15 credits for fall. They typically take 2 direct-enrollment courses at the university and another 3 language courses through the Flagship Beijing Center.

      • Spring
        • Nanjing

          Students at Nanjing earn 3 credits for the spring internship. They may complete the internship at another site in mainland China, such as Beijing or Shanghai.
          Hong Kong and Taiwan are restricted, as may be some sensitive or unstable areas, such as Tibet and Xinzhang.
          Hong Kong and Taiwan are excluded.

          Beijing

          Students at Beijing earn 12-15 credits for spring as well.
          They typically take 1 direct-enrollment courses at the university and another 2 language courses through the Flagship Beijing Center and complete an internship at the same time.[@] Beijing participants are limited to sites in Beijing, to and from which they can commute during the week.

      • Notes on Chinese Courses – Nanjing Site (provided by Conner Clark while on site in 2015)
        • Chinese Media and Society – 4 credit hours
          Advanced Composition – 4 credit hours
          Mandarin Strengthening – 2 credit hours
          Nanjing History & Culture – 1 credit hour (history & culture, not language)
          Capstone Internship is 3 credits of CHIN 598.
    • Scholarships
      • Fall
        • Flagship scholarship recipients will receive all but $500 of their total funding in fall semester (this is usually $14k of a $15k total, but ROTC students will normally receive more. All scholarships amounts are subject to change until April before participation, when the following year’s total scholarship amounts are decided upon by the national office).
          This is because housing in China must be paid in advance, and most participants will have to pay their spring housing in January, before the university is able to release spring scholarships.
          IMPORTANT: you will not be able to receive your fall scholarship until 1 week before the UM fall semester begins. This will likely be after the date by which you will need to pay for your fall housing in China.
          Due to the strict UM policy on scholarship disbursement, there is no work-around for this problem. Please prepare your own funds accordingly.Boren scholarship recipients will receive their funds directly and will not need to wait on the university.
      • Spring
        • Flagship scholarship recipients will receive the remaining $500 in spring (approx. mid-March).
  • Eligibility Requirements for Capstone Application

    • Speaking

      • Chinese Literature (CHIN 417 or approved equiv.)
      • Classical Chinese (CHIN 418 or approved equiv.)
      • Domain Training (CHIN 450 or 550 taken for 1-6 credits, semester max:3)

    • Linguistic Requirements:

      • Speaking (OPI): min. ILR 2*
      • Listening & Reading: One must be ≥ ILR 2, and the other must be ILR ≥ 1+*
      • Writing: exam is in development, no current requirement
    • Make sure you have met with our academic director and gotten approval for your time frame for Capstone.
      By default, Literature and Classical Chinese are taken in fall and spring, respectively, of junior year, and domain training is done in senior year.
      Students who are ahead or behind in the sequence may follow an alternate plan, while those who do a semester or more abroad may complete some of these requirements in other ways.
      ALL options require prior approval from the director, and this should be sought as early as possible (freshman year is the ideal time to start planning)
  • Flagship Certification Requirements & Categories

    To be considered for Flagship Certification, Flagship students must achieve

    • Speaking
      • Min. Score: ILR 3
      • Assessment Instruments

        The following assessments will be accepted as evidence of ILR 3 proficiency in speaking:

        • Flagship Post-Capstone OPI,
        • Foreign Service Institute (FSI) OPI (available for Boren Flagship Scholars), or
        • An official Language Testing Institute (LTI) OPI (additional option for students who continue to work on language proficiency while completing their undergraduate degree at their home Flagship campus post Capstone).
    • Reading & Listening
      • Min. Score (for each): ILR 2+
      • Assessment Instruments

        The following assessments will be accepted as evidence of ILR 2+/2+ in Reading and Listening:

        • Flagship Post-Capstone online Reading and Listening assessment,
        • Foreign Service Institute (FSI) Reading assessment (available for Boren Flagship Scholars), or
        • DLPT for Reading and Listening (available to Boren Flagship and ROTC Flagship students)
    • Writing
      • Min. Score: At this time, there is no minimum requirement in Writing for Flagship Certification.
      • Assessment Instruments

        The following assessments will be accepted as evidence of Mandarin writing proficiency:

        • Most languages also include a Writing Test at the conclusion of the Capstone program; however the Mandarin test is still under development.
    • Designations
      • Capstone students with 3/3/3 will earn certification with distinction.
      • Those falling below 3/2+/2+ will receive a certificate of Capstone completion.
    • Process
      • Project Directors or Coordinators must submit the student’s name through the StudentCertification System (SCS) in order for the student to receive certification.From June 1, 2017 onwards, the following Flagship Certification categories will beimplemented:
        • Students who achieve a 3/2+/2+ will be Certified Flagship Global Professionals.
        • Students who achieve the score of 3/3/3 will be Certified Flagship Global Professionals with Distinction.
        • Students who fall below the standard of 3/2+/2+ but otherwise complete the Flagship program in good standing, including the Capstone year, will receive a Certificate of Flagship Completion.
        • Students who graduate before meeting the requirements for higher-level Flagship certification, have completed some but not all aspects of a Domestic and/or Overseas Flagship program, and who have made good faith efforts are eligible to become Flagship Alumni.
        • Students who disenroll or otherwise withdraw from their Flagship program prior to graduation are ineligible to become alumni.
        • A Certification Committee selected at the annual Flagship Project Director’s meeting meets three times per year to review students sent forward for Flagship Certification to confirm that standards are met.
Application Timeline ☷
  • Summer (one year out)☷
    • Overview
      • Application Dates
        • Capstone Application Deadlines for fall 2018 start
          • Application: DATES (Fall 2018 Start):
            Application Close: September 28, 3pm EST
            Reference Close: September 28, 3pm EST
            AC Exam: October 6 – 7, local time
            OPI: October 2 – 6, EST
            [Exam rosters and information is forthcoming]Updates to Application:
            · Additional section on employment history and employment certification
            · The speaking sample prompt has changed. Students are now required to upload a VIDEO of themselves speaking as though they are participating in a job interview. Please see the attached application for more details. Participants may be required to submit an additional recording of themselves reading a passage, to be proctored and organized at a later time. Updated information is forthcoming.
        • Capstone Application Deadlines for fall 2017 start
          • Application Deadline: Jan 10
            Reference Deadline: Jan 17
            Oral Proficiency Interview: Jan 11-13, Jan 17-20
            AC Reading/Listening Exam: Jan 20/21Please inform us of any student who will be traveling abroad during the designated testing period as additional procedures will be required for overseas test takers (i.e. proctor agreement form)
      • Courses
        • You should be taking CHIN 513 in Fall and possibly CHIN 512 in Spring.
          You may be taking CHIN 450 of 550 in one or both of those semesters as well.
      • Capstone Location
        • You will need to consider whether you prefer Nanjing or Beijing and be prepared to tell our co-directors which and why so they can make a case for you in their recommendation letter.
      • Scholarships
        • Boren scholarship
          • Decide as early as possible whether you would like to apply for the Boren scholarship, which will likely add another 25% to your Capstone funding.
          • Meet with the on-campus representative (currently Tim Dolan in the Honors College) and attend any and all Fall Boren webinars.
          • When you begin the application, please refer to our “Capstone Info for Boren Application” section for details required within the application.
          • This webpage) contains videos of Boren alums and what they are doing as well as insights on how to approach the service requirement (very valuable for deciding whether Boren is right for you and for writing your application essays).
        • Honors Fellowships
          • If you are in Honors and you have not exhausted your eligibility for funding, inquire about an Honors fellowship to help support your Capstone experience.
            While the exact amounts are not guaranteed, students have received up to $2,500 per semester abroad (so a total of $5k).
    • Costs
    • Exams
      • In November, you will take the telephonic OPI as part of CHIN 513.
        Your score will give you some idea of how prepared you are for the Capstone application, but this exam CAN NOT be used as part of the application.
    • Application Process ☷
  • Fall Semester ☷
    • Take CHIN 513, CHIN 450, and/or any other required courses
    • Take the telephonic OPI in early November. You will take it again as part of your Capstone application, but we require it in November so that you and the directors have a bead on where you stand. We do not have direct access to the Capstone app test results and often only hear what they are during the director’s selection meeting. Because we do not have direct access to them, they cannot be used for any official purpose, including for Croft graduation dossiers.
    • Boren Scholarship, Phase 1
      • The Boren scholarship typically provides 25% more funding than a Flagship scholarship.
      • Flagship allows for a stacking of scholarships with the Boren, such that Boren recipients can potentially receive 100% toward the estimated costs of attending Capstone.
      • Boren scholarship recipients have a 1-year service requirement in a federal job related to national security.
      • This relationship is broader than most people would think
      • Also, for anyone hoping to work for the government (long-term or as a means to a strategic end), being a Boren recipient can raise your profile and help you land a coveted position at a competitive post.

      • Complete the following Google form to indicate your intention to apply (or not):

        Boren Application, Part 1

      • This webpage) contains videos of Boren alums and what they are doing as well as insights on how to approach the service requirement (very valuable for deciding whether Boren is right for you and for writing your application essays).
  • Spring Semester ☷
    • Graduation Prep
      • Students must remain degree-seeking undergraduates for the entire time that they are participating in Capstone. You can still walk with your class, however, as long as you meet the university’s requirements (it’s not unusual for a student to walk and then stay for the summer, or even fall semester to finish a few courses. In most cases, a student should be able to do the same thing before they participate in Capstone). Note: graduating with another degree, like business, is ok as long as you remain a degree-seeking undergraduate for your Chinese major.

      • The following Google form includes additional instructions and explanations:

        Confirmation of Doc Submission to Liberal Arts

      • In order to participate in the commencement ceremony, you must fill out an online diploma application on time (usually the week of February 20, but the exact week changes slightly each year). Any student participating in Capstone and delaying graduation will need to come by the Liberal Arts office and fill out a paper diploma application for the next graduation date, once your participation in Capstone in finalized. In April 2017, students will fill out a paper application for May 2018 graduation so the degree can be awarded at that time. It may be important to note that their graduation fee of $50 will not be charged until Liberal Arts submits the paper application in spring 2018.
    • Cap App Test Score Results
      • Dr. Zeng will inform students of their test scores and ranking after the selection meeting (usually on a Monday roughly March 6)Starting this year, there is a Capstone site placement committee that takes place the day after the selection meeting.
    • Boren Scholarship, Phase 2 – Update
      • Please provide an update on your Boren progress, or resolve to apply (or not)

      • Complete the following Google form to indicate your Boren application progress (and / or intentions):

        Boren Application, Part 2

      • This webpage) contains videos of Boren alums and what they are doing as well as insights on how to approach the service requirement (very valuable for deciding whether Boren is right for you and for writing your application essays).
    • Study Abroad Application
    • Boren Scholarship, Phase 3 – Submission
      • Please confirm that you have submitted the Boren application (or not)

      • Complete the following Google form to confirm your submission of the Boren application (or not):

        Boren Application, Part 3

      • This webpage) contains videos of Boren alums and what they are doing as well as insights on how to approach the service requirement (very valuable for deciding whether Boren is right for you and for writing your application essays).
    • Arrival Periods (announced April 10)
      • Dear all,We are happy to announce the arrival periods for the Fall 2017 Capstone programs:

        NANJING:

        August 16-August 20, 2017
        *Students should not arrive into China earlier than the arrival period above. Your flight itinerary (uploaded to the acceptance package) should reflect an arrival into China within this designated period. If you have any concerns or questions, please reach out to us.

        BEIJING:

        August 30: Arrival into D.C. (American Councils will organize travel. Costs are included in the cost of attendance.)
        August 31: Orientation in D.C.
        September 1: Depart for Beijing

        As a reminder:
        · Acceptance package webinars (highly recommended) will be held from April 17th-21st .
        · In order to receive your visa documents, you must complete this acceptance survey.
        · BEIJING participants, please complete this PDO survey as soon as you finalize your travel plans.
        · NANJING participants, please provide the occupation of your emergency contact asap.
        · Mandatory safety and security webinar is this Wednesday, from 1:00pm-3:30pm Eastern Standard Time.
        · Please make an appointment with your medical provider asap to complete Medical Form II of the acceptance package.

         

    • 15 min. indiv. Skype sessions with AC staff
      • Subject: June Skype Meeting with Nanjing Center Fall 2017Dear Nanjing Fall 2017 participants,To schedule your 15 minute Skype meeting with the Nanjing Center, please select one of the slots in the Doodle poll.• Include SKYPE USERNAME
        • Slots are first come first served: almost ALL slots will be taken
        • June 7, 8, 14,15, 21, 22 from 8pm-10:30pm (all EASTERN time)
        • We appreciate you making every effort to attend one of the available slots
        • This is an opportunity for you to ask questions and to introduce yourself to the Center Director and Flagship Instructors
        • The poll is hidden and confidential: please write down the time slot you signed up for, or, contact me to confirm, if neededhttp://doodle.com/poll/cx33ychx9pk5ra9hIf you have concerns about any matters related to acceptance, please reach out to me.
    • Travel Prep
      • Fall-Spring 2016-17 Timeline

        • Beijing:

          8/24 (students arrive in DC) – AC will arrange air flight transportation. If a student wants to drive to PDO, please let us know.
          8/25 PDO in DC
          8/26 Depart for Beijing in a group, led by resident director
          8/27 Arrival in Beijing
          6/30 Estimated Program End Date

        • Nanjing:

          Arrival period is 8/15(earliest) – 8/24(latest).
          Students may not enter China prior to 8/15 on the Nanjing University sponsored X1 visa and may not use the visa for non-program sponsored activities.
          The Nanjing Center will be expecting participants shortly after they land at the airport (Nanjing airport/Shanghai airport, etc). Participants are required to upload a flight itinerary to the acceptance package, both arriving into China and departing China.

          End date varies depending on internships – Estimated July 2017

        Please encourage participants to reach out to us if they will be studying on a summer program in China, etc., or have traveling concerns/questions. Thank you.

      • China (X) Visa for Capstone
        • The X1 visa will allow you to remain in China for the duration of your program, as indicated in the invitation letter or JW202. When the visa is issued, it will be a single entry visa valid for “000” days after arrive. This is a technicality. When you arrive in China at the program site, you will be issued a new visa that will allow you to leave and re-enter China multiple times during the program dates.Note: the X1 visa requires that you enter China within 3 months of the entry date. It is important, therefore, that you and your broker ensure that it is not processed too early in the spring. This should NOT, however, be thought of as grounds for waiting to submit your application materials.You have multiple options for obtaining your China visa:
          • Submit your application to us and allow us to get them processed in bulk through our broker. Requirements:
            1. Submit all documents below to us by our deadline (announced separately)
            2. In order to process these in an organized fashion, we will NOT accept partial submissions
          • Submit your application through our broker but on your own. Requirements:
            1. Pick up your JW202 and invitation letter from us.
            2. Submit all forms below to the address found on the visa broker’s web page, also below
            3. Include a brief note, introducing yourself as a student in The University of Mississippi Chinese Language Flagship program
          • Submit your application on your own, using a broker that you find yourself. Requirements:
            1. Pick up your JW202 and invitation letter from us.
            2. Make sure you confirm with the broker that they service your state ( Look up your consulate by your state of residence ). This would be the state on your driver’s license. We are able to use your UM ID card, but this is not guaranteed throughout the country.
          • Submit your application in person. Requirements:
            1. Pick up your JW202 and invitation letter from us.
            2. Make sure you confirm with the broker that they service your state ( Look up your consulate by your state of residence ). This would be the state on your driver’s license. We are able to use your UM ID card, but this is not guaranteed throughout the country.
            3. Confirm with your broker exactly what forms you will need to submit. Our broker’s website (below) suggests that the in-person document may be different. Consulates have been known to reject application forms from other consulates.

          Here is a list of required items:

          • Physical passport valid for at least one year from submission date
          • One passport photo of professional quality (available at Walgreen’s and other drug stores. Do NOT attempt to make your own!)
          • Your JW202 form and invitation letter from your Capstone institution via American Councils (mailed to Nate and available for pick-up if you are getting your own)
          • Application Fee (our broker charges $209 for the visa and service fee)
          • Copy of passport
          • Copy of all China visas from the past two years (most likely in your passport)
          • Copy of your driver’s license
          • Copy of your UM ID card (unless your license is from TX, OK, AR, LA, MS, AL, GA, or FL)
          • China visa application (see link below)
          • China visa application, supplementary form part B (see link below)

          To access the application documents, or to connect with our China visa broker, visit the following link:
          Visa Broker’s Web Site with Application Docs

      • Medication
        • Make sure you bring enough medication and related supplies for the entire duration of the Capstone program (or to have a plan to obtain them without causing any disruption to your attendance in the program).
          • Please bring enough medication with you to last the length of your Overseas Flagship Program as it can be difficult or impossible to obtain prescriptions while overseas. Note: Some common medications, including but not limited to those for pain, ADHD, anxiety, depression, or insomnia are illegal in some countries.
          • You are responsible for ensuring that all medications are legally permissible abroad and for making any necessary prescription changes in consultation with your physician well ahead of the start of the Overseas Flagship Program.
          • When bringing your medication across the border, you may be asked to present a doctor’s note and prescription of the medication needed (including the generic name of the medication) to the customs officer. It is highly advisable for you to obtain a doctor’s note and prescription prior to departure.
          • It is also advisable to have the medication in your carry-on luggage should the officers want to inspect it.
Participation Timeline ☷

Taipei dates For Fall 2021-Spring 2022:

The estimated dates for the year are September 1, 2021 until June 30, 2022.

As always with NSEP programs abroad, the earliest students can arrive for these programs is one week in advance, and they must depart within one week after the program ends. (At the moment, there is an exception to this rule for January 2021, in that students may need to arrive two weeks early in order to quarantine. We will confirm this with you all later.)

  • Summer before departure☷
    • Nanjing Pre-Arrival Info (for Fall-Spring 2015-16 Sequence)

      • Docs Mentioned Below:2017 1——生活指南

        2017年秋季——日程安排-[2017-05-15]

        2017年秋季学期——HotelDirections

        2017年秋季学期——回执单1——订房单

        2017年秋季学期——回执单2——入学信息调查表

        May 27, 2017

        Dear Fall 2017 Flagship Students,

        Congratulations on successfully making it to the Fall 2017 Cohort at the Nanjing Flagship Center! We look forward to hosting you here in Nanjing, and having a fulfilling experience together here in the next few months. In anticipation of your arrival, we would like to remind you to please come register at the Flagship Center as soon as possible upon arrival in Nanjing. The Center Staff will be assisting you in completing multiple time-sensitive procedures for a temporary residence permit, finding housing and more.

        We are located at the southeast corner of Shanghai Road (上海路) and West Beijing Road (北京西路):

        美国国家中文领航项目南京中心

        南京大学曾宪梓楼602室

        中国南京上海路金银街18号, 邮编210093

        Zeng Xianzi Building, Room 602

        Nanjing University

        18 Jinyin Rd (off of Shanghai Road), Nanjing 210093, China

         

        Our office hours are as listed below. Please refer to the following table for your appropriate arrival date. Upon arriving, please first register at Room 606. Instructions will be posted on the wall. If you are having trouble finding the office or have not yet reported when you will arrive in Nanjing, please feel free to call the Center at: (+86) 025-8359 6112

        August 16th – Sept 2nd , 2017
        Office Hours 8:00 AM 6:00 PM
        Office Location ZengXianZi Building, Room 602
        September 4th – Onwards (M-F)
        Office Hours 8:00 AM 9:30 PM
        Office Location ZengXianZi Building, Room 602

        A timeline overview between now and August 2017 (left to right):

        1. Finish reading the Lifestyle Guide/生活指南
        2. Attend Skype meeting with the Nanjing Center (mid- to late-June 2017)
        3. Turn in 回执单1 & 回执单2 by June 30, 2017 to kamlatung@163.com
        4. Finish reading the Academic Guide/学习指南 by late June/early July
        5. Add all relevant Chinese phone apps
        6. Arrive in Nanjing between August 16 – 30, 2017

        We would also like firmly remind you to please read in detail ALL materials sent to you in the attachments prior to the Skype Interview. We will be sending you 2 emails with various instructions. Prior to that, please note the following academic changethis semester:

        For several cohorts, the Nanjing Center has implemented a “self-selection” process into courses based on student choice. However, starting this Fall, we will re-implement course divisions based on tested language levels. This choice is due to feedback that language level variance (which is high in the Intermediate High/advanced stage) has had a significant influence on a class’ timely/effective progression. As such, students’ language levels will be assessed based on a composite of (1) their AC pre-test taken to enter the capstone year, and (2) the initial language assessments on the first day of orientation in Nanjing. Due to the nature of how classes work, class scheduling is composed of first locking down your Nanjing Center courses and then selecting NJU courses from remaining time slots.

        Now, in the following days and weeks, you will also receive a total of 2 formal group emails from the Center. Please read each of the following carefully:

        1. This email is regarding Pre-Arrival Administrative Information and includes 5 (five) documents:
        2. a)Nanjing Lifestyle Guide/生活指南: START with this 21-page guide to understand requirements and important to-do’s to take care of before arriving in Nanjing
        3. b)回执单1/Survey 1: Turn this in by June 30, 2017 to kamlatung@163.com regarding Hotel Information (fill in regardless of whether you make your own bookings/have Flagship book for you)
        4. c)回执单2/Survey 2: Turn this in by June 30, 2017 to kamlatung@163.com regarding classes and majors you are interested in taking part in at Nanjing University as well as preferences regarding your to-be roommate-tutor.
        5. d)Hotel Directions: Keep this in your arsenal for your arrival in Nanjing. It has a simplified table of directions for airport/train station to hotel directions.
        6. e)2017年秋季——日程安排: a table running 2 pages that documents the most important deadlines and dates throughout the semester (please note that, as with scheduling in China, this can only be used as a frame of reference – changes may be made dependent on weather, government and school scheduling/changes)
        7. A second email will be sent regarding academic information. This includes 4 (four) documents:
        8. a)SAMPLE-WeeklySchedule.pdf: This is a previous student’s personal weekly schedule for their time here in Nanjing. Many students are unaware as to how rigorous and time-consuming the capstone year here in Nanjing is, and so this document is meant to give you a detailed look at a sample schedule (Note: many schedules are lighter depending on classes/campuses)
        9. b)STUDENT-EVAL-[语法优化]: Recent course changes have made it such that this advanced-level grammar course is now optional. This is a review written by a student who focused on the positive impact the course had on their speaking/writing (in its nuance-based changes which can make or break a Superior-level result).
        10. c)南京——课程: This document offers an overview of our Nanjing Center course options and some basic requirements.

        Finally, ALL emails sent after these will be written in Chinese. We expect you to read them thoroughly and will hold you accountable for their content.

         

        Best regards,

        Qin Zhang

        Director, Chinese Flagship Program Nanjing Center

    • Fees & Scholarships
      • Your Bursar’s Bill
        • You will not be billed directly by the Capstone Center for tuition, fees, etc.
          Instead, American Councils will invoice the UM Study Abroad Office, who will in turn add their own fees for UM tuition, etc. (approx $1,500 total, most in fall and some in spring), and will bill your bursar’s account.
        • Your scholarship will post to your bursar’s account (excluding Boren recipients).
        • You will be able to receive all funds remaining after the Study Abroad charges have been covered.
        • Make sure you have set up direct deposit or checked that the mailing address on file with the bursar is correct for you to receive it as a check.
        • This will occur after you have already left for China, so it is important to plan ahead.
        • Make sure that you and your parents (if involved in your finances) are expecting to see the UM Study Abroad fees to appear on your bursar’s bill.
          • Nanjing Participants

            Your fall bursar charges will total approximately $3,900 in fall and $1,000 in spring.
            Note that UM Financial Aid policy requires an attendance verification before your scholarship funds can disburse.
            This requires that you be on site and in class. There is no work-around for this requirement, so you will need to be prepared to pay for your fall housing upfront while you wait for the scholarship funds to pay out and reimburse you.

          • Beijing Participants

            Your fall bursar charges will total approx. $14,000 because all tuition and housing are billed upfront.
            Their Bursar bill will therefore absorb all, or nearly all, of the fall Flagship scholarship.

        • Remember that the additional UM fees represent an additional charge of $1,500 for Capstone (yes, you have to pay for tuition even if you don’t need the credits).
      • Fall Scholarship Acceptance
        • Scholarship Acceptance (Fall)☷

          Please submit this short Google form for our records:

          App Access Conf Form

  • Fall of Capstone☷
    • Upon Arrival
      • Where to stay before getting housing:
        Advice on choosing classes:
        Direct enrollment classes will be transferred back to Ole Miss. They will be Z-graded, however, so a passing grade is 60 and above.
        You do not need to have a transcript processed through Bryn Mawr, as a Chinese transcript will be sent to UM Study Abroad for credits and grades to be determined.

        • Candid Advice from Mazie Merriman
        • Chinese Courses & Costs – Nanjing Site (provided by Conner Clark while on site in 2015)
          • Chinese Media and Society – 4 credit hours
            Advanced Composition – 4 credit hours
            Mandarin Strengthening – 2 credit hours
            Nanjing History & Culture – 1 credit hour (history & culture, not language)Fall Expenses at Nanjing (provided by Conner Clark while on site)

            Capstone Nanjing Costs
            Expense Amount
            飞机票 USD2323
            六个月房租 USD4318
            房地产中介费 USD260
            体检 USD70
            居留证 USD65
            南京SIM卡 USD17
            6month cell service (cheapest) 中国联通 USD45
            去南京的高铁 USD37
            6month wifi USD200
            Study Abroad Direct Enroll Tuition USD3498
            Direct Enroll Fees USD5200
            Total USD11404

            “Regarding the housing, mine’s 3800元／月 which is, from what I’ve heard, about average among the students this time. The cheapest I’ve heard is about 3200/3400, and the most expensive I’ve heard is 4300/4400.”

            Capstone Internship is 3 credits of CHIN 598. You’ll be charged for 3 UM credits (currently $874.50) plus $250 for semester-long insurance

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Capstone Info for Boren Application
    1. the course of study and related cultural activities

      – The course of study is “Chinese Language and Culture” and will include two main courses (4 credits each) with the Nanjing Flagship Center, and at least 2 direct-enroll courses at Nanjing University (the course being chosen by the student after arrival in Nanjing, but previous research can be done by looking up departments/majors/courses at www.nju.edu.cn); related cultural activities: Nanjing Center has 4 mandatory fieldtrips and 2 mandatory history lectures (focused on Nanjing history and culture). Although the final fieldtrip destinations for each semester may vary (depending on exhibitions, etc), they generally include: Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum/Ming Dynasty Mausoleum, Presidential Palace, Jiangning (silk) Manufacturing, Nanjing Cloud Brocade Museum, the Jiangsu Provincial Museum (funded by the province and the largest free museum in all of Jiangsu which covers exhibitions for the entire province), Nanjing Massacre Memorial and the National Imperial Examination Museum. The Center also hosts a number of activities (generally once a month) that are generally centered around Chinese holidays (MidAutumn Festival, QingMing Holiday, DuanWu Festival, etc).

    2. administrative and support services provided (will there be a resident director, etc?)

      – The Center Director at Nanjing supervises a small group of 4-5 main staff members that coordinate the various aspects of student life in Nanjing. These include: (a) Academic Consultant: who works with the student as an academic adviser in finding and choosing courses, (b) Academic Secretary: works on the daily grades delivered from the Nanjing Center courses as well as being responsible for the Chinese roommates paired with Flagship students, (c) Administrative Secretary: responsible for logistic issues.

    3. how many classroom contact hours

      – Weekly: Writing (3.5) + Media (3) + Mandarin Strengthening (2) + Roommate Tutoring (5) + NJU Classes (~4) = approximately 17.5 hours a week

    4. opportunities outside the classroom

      – mandatory community service (15 hours for all of Fall semester)

      – occasional local TV opportunities (participating in documentaries/TV shows or interview, etc)

Communications from Nanjing & Taipei
  • Nanjing
    • Acceptance
  • Taipei
    • Acceptance
      Dear ##STUDENT##,
      We are so pleased you will be a member of the very first cohort joining us on the new adventure that is the Chinese Flagship Overseas Program at National Taiwan University in Taipei, Taiwan!  Welcome! And congratulations on your academic achievement and advancing to your culminating Capstone year.
      We want to assure you that we are busily working on a complete acceptance package and program handbooks and they will soon be emailed to you.  Until that time, we wanted to give you some basic information about the Taipei Program.
      • In the coming weeks there will be a number of mandatory orientation webinars.  The dates will be released shortly.
      • You will be expected to be in Taipei by September 1, 2019.  We will be sending you detailed information about obtaining your Taiwan visa shortly. In advance, you may want to schedule an appointment with your doctor for late April/early May, as your visa requires a health certificate to be filled out and signed by a doctor.  Further, there is an additional medical form required by Hunter College Chinese Flagship Overseas Program that must be filled out by a physician who knows you well and mailed in to the program.
      • Once you are in Taiwan, the Taipei Flagship Center will welcome you and also hold a mandatory orientation meeting.  There will be a number of staff members, including a Site Director, Resident Director, Internship Coordinator, and faculty advisors, all dedicated to working with and assisting Flagship Program students.
      • Accommodation will be offered in the Shui Yuan dormitory at NTU, and it is recommended that all Capstone students take advantage of this comfortable and inexpensive housing option.  The dormitory is suite-style, with six private bedrooms sharing common space, a basic kitchen, and a bathroom.  Living off-campus is possible but more expensive.  If you would like to learn more about the Shui Yuan dormitory, please go here and scroll down.
      • Your first semester at the Taipei Flagship Overseas Program will consist of four rigorous courses, all taught in Chinese, and is designed to improve all aspects of your Chinese-language skills, speaking, listening, reading, and writing.  Two of the courses will be taught by Taipei Flagship Center staff, and will be with other members of your Chinese Flagship cohort.  One class will be a direct enrollment NTU class, where you will learn alongside your Chinese peers.  The final class will be a research project related to your direct enrollment class; you will be matched with a grad student who will work with you and guide you through the Chinese research process.  Other aspects of the first semester include: a minimum of five hours of one-on-one tutoring per week; spending time with local families; being matched with language partners; field trips and excursions; community service; and taking part in activities and student clubs on the NTU campus.

      Please note that your acceptance package will include a questionnaire to help you enroll in a direct enrollment NTU class that best suits your interests and academic needs.

      • The second semester consists of a full-time, four-month-long internship which will give you a clear understanding of Chinese workplace culture and take your fluency to the professional level.  Following the internship is a three-week-long intensive Chinese-language practicum, to fully prepare you for your post-Capstone exit assessment.
      Please note that your acceptance package will include a second questionnaire so that the Taipei Flagship Center’s Internship Coordinator can help find suitable placement options for your interests.
      • You are required to depart Taiwan within seven (7) days after completing your post-Capstone assessment exam.  This means you will be leaving Taiwan by June 18, 2020.
      • During this first year of the Taipei Program, students will not be permitted to travel outside of Taiwan unless there is a family emergency.  The Taipei Program is very demanding and there is little time for travel; during the free time you have, there is plenty to explore in Taiwan itself, from the night markets of Taipei to Alishan’s mountain railway to Taroko National Park.
      • To help you in your planning for your Capstone year abroad, attached please find an estimated cost of attendance for the Chinese Flagship Overseas Program in Taipei.
      At this time, we ask that if you are planning on attending a summer program in China or Taiwan (such as Princeton in Beijing or ICLP in Taipei), please let us know, as it will affect your visa arrangements.
      Further, if based on the above information, or other factors, you will not be able to accept a place on the program, please let us know as soon as possible.
      We hope you will be joining us, as we launch the inaugural year of a promising and rich Chinese Flagship Overseas Program in Taiwan.
      With very best wishes,
      Professor Der-lin Chao
      Program Director
      Ms. Sam Maser
      Project Coordinator
  • Moving Locations for 2020-21

    We are writing to inform you that after careful consideration regarding several host institutions for the Chinese Overseas Flagship in Taiwan, beginning in fall 2020, the new host institution will be National Yang Ming University, located in Taipei City at the foothill of Yang Ming Mountain. The decision to move the Capstone program from National Taiwan University was heavily influenced by the feedback we received from the Chinese Flagship Project Directors. We would also like to thank Hunter College on their leadership in seeing the Chinese Capstone program in Taiwan through this transition.

    National Yang Ming University (NYMU) is a campus of approximately 4,000 students with sweeping views of Taipei. NYMU’s President, Hsu Sung Kuo, is enthusiastic about welcoming the Flagship Taiwan Program and Capstone students to the campus, as one of his personal ideals is that today’s college graduates must have a global worldview. NYMU has seven colleges, and a wide array of direct enrollment courses taught in Chinese for Flagship students to dive into. The university’s dormitories are very affordable, and there is ample space for every Flagship student to live on campus, where they can room with their Taiwanese peers. We are confident that the excitement of NYMU’s leadership about partnering with the Taiwan Program, and the university’s excellent facilities, will be highly beneficial to the Program and to our students.

    The partnership with National Taiwan University will end on May 31, 2020. Current students complete their Semester 1 final exams on January 10, 2020. From January 11 until February 2 is Winter Break. After the Break, on February 3, students will begin their internships, which will be completed on June 12. Students will continue to live at the NTU dorms until they return to the U.S. no later than June 26. We want to express our appreciation to National Taiwan University for hosing our inaugural cohort in Taiwan.

    Attached are several informative documents for the reference of 2020 fall cohort applicants. These include a Cost of Attendance estimate, a one-page brief description of the program, and a more detailed two-page program outline. Here also is the website link with useful information for the fall 2020 program applicants: http://chineseflagship.hunter.cuny.edu/overseasintaipeifall2020

    If you have any questions, please get in touch with Professor Der-lin Chao, the Taiwan Program Project Director, or with Ms. Sam Maser, the Project Coordinator. We look forward to working with National Yang Ming University.

    Choosing to leave NTU was a difficult decision, but NTU has been gracious in understanding that Flagship has specific space, dormitory, and facility requirements for Capstone students which unfortunately NTU could not fulfill. We have thanked Dr. W.H. Kao, Associate Dean Yea-feng Wu, Dean Mu-hsuan Huang, and Vice President Chia Pei Chou for their tremendous support and the assistance they supplied to this project.

    I can also reassure you that the Hunter team is confident that the Capstone Program will make a smooth transition to National Yang Ming University (NYMU). With enthusiastic support from NYMU President Hsu Sung Kuo, the fall 2020 program has a simpler administrative structure and improved design that will better meet Flagship students’ learning needs, as well as a refined curriculum supported by trained teachers. Here are some highlights:

    1. Due to students’ diverse language learning needs, students will attend two hours of daily group sessions with only three or four students. In addition, students will receive 1 hour of tutoring per day.
    2. All students admitted to the program will live in an NYMU dormitory (double or quad) and have Taiwanese roommates who are fellow NYMU students.
    3. NYMU provides a wide range of interdisciplinary direct enrollment courses to Flagship students.
    4. The instructional materials will be revised and improved. A new culture textbook will be designed to introduce modern Taiwanese culture that students can talk about with locals.
    5. Administratively, Taiwan Center will be under the office of Dr. William Stanton (司徒文) Vice President of NYMU. Dr. Stanton is a great supporter of Flagship and is fluent in Mandarin.
    6. Hunter Flagship faculty (Der-lin Chao, Ming-Ying Li, and Bo Hao) will take turns being onsite during the 2020-2021 academic year to set implementation standards for the Center.

    At the same time, we will work hard to make sure that current first cohort students have a positive internship experience and continue improving their language proficiency. If you need more information about the plan for fall 2020 or have any questions, please contact me. Thank you again for your support. Look forward to seeing you in February.

Travel Policy in Taipei
  • Please refer to the Program Handbook, which you can find here: http://chineseflagship.hunter.cuny.edu/taiwanoverseas/assets/resources/Program-Handbook_v.4_040919.pdfInformation regarding independent travel while on the Taiwan Program can be found on page 18. There are also links there to the forms you will need.Travel cannot conflict with classes, arranged activities, internships, or cultural excursions.In short, if you wish to travel outside of Taiwan, you will need to fill out an independent travel form and receive permission from Professor Li-yuan Chen, Professor Der-lin Chao, and your home university Flagship Director, two weeks in advance of your travel.If you wish to travel within Taiwan, and your travel requires an overnight stay, you must fill out the same form and get permission from Professor Li-yuan Chen, three days prior to traveling.At no time do you need your parents’ or guardians’ permission to travel; you are all adults.Day trips are permitted within and outside of Taipei with no permission needed. However, for safety’s sake, if you go on a day trip, do let someone know where you are going, and what time you expect to return. Please see the section of the Program handbook on Safety (page 30, link above).One other thing: The email you were sent did correctly state that you are not permitted to drive any vehicles (including electric scooters) while on the program. This is per CUNY rules regarding “high-risk” activities. Please see page 29 of the Program Handbook (link above). If you engage in such activities you risk being dismissed from the Program. Further, if you are injured while engaged in a “high-risk” activity, your coverage under CISI insurance cannot be guaranteed.
Capstone Testing Policy

  • Pre-Capstone Assessment Retest Guidelines

    The Language Flagship has been using the Flagship Assessment Battery, developed and administered by the American Councils for International Education assessment since 2008 and considers it a very reliable and accurate assessment for review and acceptance of students into the Flagship Capstone. Accordingly, Flagship makes every effort to provide Capstone applicants with a thorough understanding of the importance of their assessment results for determining their preparedness and readiness for the overseas programs.

    Research conducted by Flagship concludes that students be allowed to retest only after they demonstrate a high likelihood of meeting the overseas proficiency benchmarks. The threshold proficiency requirement for selection is as follows:

    • Flagship Overseas Capstone: ILR 2 Speaking, an ILR 2 in either reading or listening, no lower than a 1+ in either reading, listening or writing (for languages where writing assessments are administered).

    Flagship has adopted the retest guidelines listed below.

     

    Retesting guidelines permit one (1) retest per year for applicants not demonstrating threshold proficiency based on the following criteria:

    1. Students who have met or exceeded the threshold proficiency in two out of three, or three out of four modalities on the Flagship Assessment Battery; and
    2. The demonstrated proficiency in the modality not meeting the threshold is no more than one-step below the required threshold proficiency, e.g. an ILR 1+ where an ILR 2 is the minimum.

    The Language Council Directors are empowered to consider whether an individual student’s proficiency results meet the criteria listed above. The Directors can then consider the student eligible for a retest.

    Other conditions or factors that may be considered are:

    1. The Flagship Assessment Battery test delivery system experienced errors or another unforeseen event impacted the test administration, which may be the cause for non-threshold test results; or
    2. Individual student health issues on the day of the test administration, which may be the cause for non-threshold test results.
    3. Student has demonstrated a previously higher score in the modality(ies) in question from another testing battery. The proficiency score must be an official score from a credible testing battery.

    The conditions and cases for the above will be reviewed on individual basis, and the Language Council Directors will make their determination of eligibility for a retest during the selection panel.

    If above retest conditions are met, the American Councils staff will send the student a retest notification that identifies the modalities to be retested and provide the retest date. The notification contains specific guidance for the student, and the student’s home institution will then provide a testing environment to accommodate the secure administration of the assessment on the retesting date.

Capstone Assistance for Pell Grant Recipients

  •  

    With support from our Board of Trustees and President, American Councils has established the U.S. Study Abroad Assistance Fund to help U.S. students with demonstrated financial need as they participate in American Councils programs. The Assistance Fund is intended to provide awards for costs that most scholarships or programs do not cover, including passport fees, medical exams, luggage, and other incidentals. Eligible program finalists can apply for up to $300 in support from the Assistance Fund towards covering these extra program costs.

     

    It is our hope that the Assistance Fund will decrease the financial barriers some U.S. students face when preparing for study abroad, and, ultimately, help expand access to meaningful overseas experiences to participants from all backgrounds. 

     

    The Assistance Fund application deadline for students participating in Spring 2020 programs is officially set as Monday, December 2, 2019. Award decisions will be made and announced within two weeks of the deadline.

     

    Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents and accepted to an American Councils study abroad program. Students must be Pell Grant or Free and Reduced Meal (FARM) eligible or a TRiO Program participant to apply.

     

    For more information on eligibility requirements or to apply, please click here. 

     

    Have more questions? Please contact the team implementing the Assistance Fund at diversitytaskforce@global.americancouncils.org

     

    ..

Monterrey Program

Contact information should you have any follow-up questions.

For curricular questions on Chinese language courses, Dr. Liwei Gao at DLI: liwei dot gao at dliflc dot edu
For content course and student services questions Ms. Jill Stoffers at MIIS: jstoffer at miis dot edu
For internship questions, Mr. David Edwards at DLNSEO: david.l.edwards225.civ at mail dot mil
For Boren application and funding questions, IIE: boren at iie dot org
For Flagship funding questions, your Flagship coordinator

As a final reminder, this year’s national Boren application deadline is February 5, 2020 at 5pm EST. Your home institution may have an earlier internal deadline, so please check in with your Flagship coordinator to confirm.

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