The Taiwanese Junior Chamber of Commerce of Georgia presented Brenau University Trustee James A. (Jim) Walters with its 2016 Cultural Ambassador Award for his role in establishing the Universal Collegiate Alliance – a Norcross, Georgia-based company that promotes development of joint higher education programs with U.S.- and China-based colleges and universities. In presenting the award at a special black-tie dinner at the Atlanta History Center, Chamber President Kai Hsu said that because of the efforts of the alliance, Walters “will be instrumental in affecting the lives of thousands of Taiwanese and Chinese students” who want to take advantage of U.S. higher education.
The alliance facilitates the kinds of “2+2 programs” like those that Brenau has in partnership with Chinese universities that enables Chinese students to complete the last two years of their undergraduate studies in Georgia earning Brenau degrees. By the time those programs are fully implemented in 2017-18, there will be a steady rotation of more than 100 Chinese students a year completing the last two years of their undergraduate studies at Brenau majoring in early childhood education, English and nursing.