Dickinson College and CET Academic Programs Announce New Partnership
Dickinson to Become School of Record for CET Study-Abroad Programs
by Christine Baksi
Affirming its position as a leader in global education, Dickinson College today announced it has entered into a new partnership with the prestigious study-abroad organization CET Academic Programs. Under the terms of the agreement, Dickinson will become the school of record and credit-granting institution for CET’s expanding high school and pre-college study-abroad programs.
“Global education is vitally important to our nation and our world,” said Dickinson President Margee M. Ensign. “This partnership aligns Dickinson’s core values and strengths in global education with those of CET, which has an unparalleled history of attracting young people who seek meaningful cultural-immersion programs and opportunities to advance their language skills. We look forward to continuing to educate the next generation of global leaders, starting at the high school level.”
U.S. high school students need documentation from an accredited higher education institution for recognition of their college-level coursework. Those students will now receive Dickinson undergraduate credit and an official transcript, which will enhance the students’ college application materials. “This partnership between CET and Dickinson takes our high school/pre-college programs to the next level,” said Mark Lenhart, CET executive director. “A CET summer or semester program abroad provides an academically and culturally enriching experience, setting students on a pathway to a meaningful undergraduate career and beyond. We could not be more excited about this academic collaboration that brings together the strengths of both CET and Dickinson.”
For more than 35 years, CET (originally China Educational Tours) has been developing and delivering innovative educational programs around the world. Each year, nearly 2,000 college, high school, pre-college and gap-year students participate in CET’s semester, summer and customized study-abroad programs. Known for strong academics, professional program management and supportive student services, CET strives to integrate students into their host communities, adopt environmentally conscientious practices and promote diversity and inclusion across all programs.
While many institutions are deemphasizing global education in the curriculum and scaling back on foreign language offerings, Dickinson is stepping up its commitment to internationalization on and off campus. The Center for Global Study & Engagement sends students on 31 semesterlong and academic-year programs in 24 countries, as well as a full range of short-term, faculty-led programs, including the distinctive global Mosaic and globally integrated courses. Nearly 60 percent of Dickinson students study abroad—while nationally only about 10 percent of college graduates do so—and approximately 70 percent of Dickinson students who study abroad do so at the college’s own sites. The college sends abroad high numbers of students who have traditionally been underrepresented in international study—55 percent of students of color and 47 percent of science majors have studied abroad in the past five years. And, recently, Dickinson became the only U.S. institution to be a two-time winner of the prestigious Senator Paul Simon Award for Comprehensive Internationalization—evidence that the college is more deeply carving out its place as an innovator in undergraduate global education.
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Published April 15, 2019