For the final day of the tour, we returned to the Hopkins Nanjing Center for an overview of financial aid, class observations, a tour, and lecture before heading off to a farewell banquet with HNC students, faculty, and staff.
HNC Funding
NAFAns will be pleased to hear that the Hopkins Nanjing Center offers generous funding packages to international students who possess the language skills to gain admittance to the certificate or MAIS program. John Urban estimated that the average financial aid package covers half of tuition and fees. HNC offers a number of scholarships and fellowships including (but not limited to): 1) a $10,000 Diversity Fellowship, 2) a $10,000 Young Professional Award for students who have spent the last 12 months in China, 3) a $10,000 US-China Exchange Fellowship for students who have received a Boren, CLS, FLAS, Fulbright, Gilman, NSLI-Y, Pickering or have participated in the Chinese Language Flagship Program or Peace Corps. The Nanjing city government also offers scholarships to students interested in working with it (though bear in mind this funding is most suitable for students who do not intend to secure US security clearance at some point in the future). Scholarships are stackable and more information can be found here: [insert link]
HNC classes
The group then split into two—one group attended Gaye Christoffersen’s China on the Border: Provincial Relations in the Periphery and the other attended Thomas Simon’s Text in Context: Chinese and English Original Writing. My group attended Dr. Simon’s course, and while we didn’t discuss text or writing, we had an interesting and wide ranging discussions with HNC’s Chinese students about the differences between American and Chinese cultures. Dr. Simon clearly had a rapport with students and his casual demeanor seemed to delight and amuse the Chinese students who were used to more formal relationships with their Chinese professors. The other group listened to students practice their presentations on issues that affect citizens outside major metropolitan areas.
Lunch at the HNC Canteen
The group then went to lunch at HNC’s canteen where faculty and students mingle. The canteen was a bit smaller than previous ones we’ve visited but still excellent.
HNC Tour
After lunch, we toured the HNC facilities. We saw a vacant dormitory, the fitness room, library, study area, and music room. HNC facilities are comfortable and have many amenities not commonly found at Chinese universities, the A/C and ice machine (a gift from the class of ‘96) are especially prized.
Visit to Avant Garde Underground Bookstore
We walked a few blocks to the Avant Garde Underground Bookstore—routinely ranked on of the best in the world. NAFAns stocked up on souvenirs and chatted over coffee.
Lecture on Green Energy
One of the great things about the Hopkins Nanjing Center is that faculty from John Hopkins SAIS program are frequent visitors. We attended a lecture from Jonas Nahm, a SAIS professor who studies global climate policy. Dr. Nahm spoke on his most recent research—a comparison of Germany and California’s efforts to reduce GHG emissions.
Farewell banquet
The group ended the night at a local Nanjing restaurant, where we were bid farewell in style by the HNC faculty and staff.