What is the UO Chinese Flagship Program?
The UO Chinese Flagship is a demanding program designed to take advanced Chinese language learners to Superior level language proficiency. Students selected for the program can choose from the 137 different academic majors offered at the University of Oregon. In addition, students are required to take a set of core courses specially designed for the Flagship Program taught exclusively in Chinese. Upon passing the Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK), a Chinese Ministry of Education standard test, students will spend their junior year at the prestigious Nanjing University in China. There they will integrate into regular courses in their own major and exercise their language skills in an all Chinese environment. Students will also receive career counseling, introductions to government and private employers, and internship opportunities to help them start their careers in the right direction.
Who should apply to the UO Flagship Program?
This program is designed for advanced Chinese language learners determined to achieve Superior language proficiency for use in their future career path. Applicants should have advanced verbal and written Mandarin Chinese skills, a strong scholastic background, and extra curricular involvement in their schools or communities. For specific requirements please visit this page.
Can international students apply to the UO Flagship program?
Yes, UO Flagship Program welcomes all promising students regardless of background. However, the Flagship Program is clearly not designed for native Chinese speakers coming from Chinese high schools.
Can international students apply for the UO Flagship scholarship?
There are many scholarships available for international students. However you have to be a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident to receive the NSEP Flagship scholarship.
Do I have to major in Chinese?
No. Students are able to pursue degrees in any of the 134 academic programs offered at the UO. Students can major in areas such as Political Science, Chemical Engineering, Computer Science, Law, Accounting, Journalism, Business Management, Molecular Biology, or even Chinese. But each term Flagship students are required to take a set of specially designed content courses, taught in Chinese.
What kinds of scholarship opportunities are available? What are the deadlines?
High school students needing financial aid are encouraged to apply for various scholarships available to them through the University of Oregon and other private/public organizations. The top students selected to the Flagship Program will receive Flagship funds to help cover tuition, housing, books and materials expenses.
For more information please visit this page.
How can I apply for the Flagship scholarship? What are the criteria for selecting students and for granting scholarships?
Interested students must first apply for undergraduate admission to the University of Oregon. A separate Chinese Flagship Program application must be submitted to the UO Center for Applied Second Language Studies (CASLS) on or before January 30. Students seeking the Flagship scholarships must complete a separate Flagship scholarship application form and submit it by Jan. 30. This application form is available here.
The Flagship selection committee will carefully review all application materials based on the following criteria: Chinese proficiency, community involvement, academic record, teacher recommendations, and the ways in which the student will add to the depth and diversity of the Flagship program.
How do you assess applicants' Chinese proficiency?
Students deemed appropriate for the program will undergo a Chinese proficiency interview. In future years, students will take the Chinese STAMP test to determine if they have advanced level proficiency.
How many students will be accepted in the program each year?
In 2006, the UO Flagship Program will start with around 15 scholarship and non-scholarship students. The program is expected to grow each year and cap-off, accepting no more than 25 new students per year.
What courses are Flagship students required to take?
During their freshman and sophomore years, Flagship Program participants will be required to take designated Flagship content and adjunct Chinese language strategies courses each term.
Content Course: These courses are designed for the Flagship program and will be taught exclusively in Chinese using the expertise of the over 25-Chinese speaking faculty members on the UO campus. The content course will be a rotation of natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities classes. Content courses focus on honors-level learning in that subject and not the mechanics of language learning.
Language Strategies Course: Advanced academic language skills will be taught in the adjunct Language Strategies course. This class, based on subject matter and materials from each specific content course, will have a strong emphasis on language learning strategies, specifically aimed at improving students¡¯ reading and writing skills.
Are there any requirements for students to maintain their Flagship scholarship?
Flagship students on scholarship are required to meet the following terms and conditions:
- take two required Chinese Flagship courses each term in their freshman and sophomore year
- take a minimum of 12 credits each per term
- take regular Chinese language (project, oral, written, and STAMP) proficiency assessments
- maintain an academic year GPA of 3.0 or higher
- participate in the Flagship Junior year abroad program to Nanjing, China
Students not meeting the conditions of the scholarship program will be taken off the scholarship.
Students will work with the Academic Director to develop a customized language development plan and benchmarks. Scholars whose language proficiency remains below proficiency level at the end of the year will be taken off the scholarship.
Scholars will not be allowed to ¡°stop out¡± of the scholarship for a term or a year without explicit emergency approval from the Program Coordinator. Scholars will not be allowed to ¡°stop out¡± to study at another institution without documented prior approval from the Academic Director. Students may remain in the Chinese Flagship program but will be allowed to reapply after 1 year. If a scholar drops out or is dropped from the program their scholarship will be awarded to a student on the waiting list.
Are there any requirements for students to maintain their Flagship scholarship?
Yes. Students not receiving scholarships but deemed qualified for the program are encouraged to enroll in the program. Flagship staff will help them apply for scholarships, but there is no guarantee that all costs will be covered. If scholarship recipients leave the program for any reason, Flagship participants will be eligible to apply for the available scholarships.
Can graduate students apply to the program?
Can I apply to the program if I am a current student at the UO? / Can I transfer from other schools to the UO Chinese Flagship Program?
As for 2006, we only accept high school seniors. Following the 2006 inaugural year, students in any year of undergraduate study can apply for the scholarship and participate in the Flagship Program. Qualified students from other universities can apply for our program as well.
Am I required to study at Nanjing University?
Yes. All students will be required to study in the regular Nanjing University program.
How will the UO Chinese Flagship Program be evaluated?
As the Chinese Flagship Program is a new program, we expect to draw on our experiences and feedbacks from our students. All Chinese Flagship courses will be evaluated by students at the end of each term.
How about the housing at the UO?
Scholars and program participants will be required to live at the International House for their freshman year.
- The International House offers a unique living environment that will help promote Flagship students language acquisition through interacting with other Chinese speaking students on the UO campus.
- This international living and learning environment will provide freshman seminar classes, talks in study lounges and Chinese cooking classes.
- The International House (I-House) is conveniently located to help maximize students connection to the college experience. It is across from the Recreation Center, the international lounge in the EMU and other on-campus resources.
Housing application fee is $30. Students who are awarded Flagship scholarships will get a refund in the fall.
Scholars and program participants will be encouraged to continue living at the International House after their freshman year. Students choosing not to stay in the dorm will be reimbursed up to the established housing amount by the UO Financial Aid.
Am I required to room with other Flagship students? Can I choose my roommate?
For the most part, Flagship students will not be rooming with other Flagship participants. Although each room is set up for double occupancy, you may select single occupancy on your application form. But if you have friends who are also in the Flagship program, you can decide to share a room with them. Please check out Housing on UO website.
Am I required to work for the government after graduation?
Although the Chinese Flagship Program is funded by the National Security Education Program (NSEP), students don't have any obligation to look for government related jobs after graduation. They can decide whether to work for various government agencies or to pursue a career in business, education, and non-profit organizations.
