EPIE Partnership – China
Partnership Overview
Fort Hays State University (FHSU) partners with EPIE, a specialized educational collaboration focused on supporting non-degree seeking (NDS) students from China who aim to advance their education in U.S. English-speaking universities. The partnership primarily serves five types of students based on their current educational status and goals:
- Type 1: Fully enrolled degree-seeking students in universities in English-speaking countries (primarily the U.S. and Canada).
- Type 2: Chinese high school graduates who have received an admission offer from a university in an English-speaking country.
- Type 3: Chinese university graduates accepted into graduate programs abroad in English-speaking countries.
- Type 4: Current Chinese high school students seeking concurrent enrollment in a-+ U.S. university for preparatory or expanded study opportunities.
- Type 5: Current Chinese high school students wishing to obtain a U.S. high school diploma.
EPIE acts as a resource center to properly evaluate the needs and eligibilities of these students to take courses under the FHSU system without pursuing a full degree immediately.
Program Structure and Support
- Teaching Assistants (TAs): Each course is assigned a TA who facilitates communication between professors and students, particularly using WeChat as a more responsive channel if preferred by faculty. They help guide students academically but encourage direct communication with instructors.
- General Assistants: Provide detailed course orientations, including navigating Blackboard, syllabus overview, FHSU policies, and actively monitor student progress through daily interactions on WeChat.
- Privacy and Education Rights: TAs are trained on FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) to ensure student privacy and confidentiality, with heightened attention to younger or high school students.
- Tutoring: EPIE contracts tutors to assist students struggling with academic content.
Course Prerequisites and Enrollment
- Each student’s home institution sets varying prerequisites for courses.
- Students must obtain approval from their home institution advisors or deans to transfer credits. Requests from institutions to enroll in courses without prerequisites are declined.
- EPIE representatives work closely with students to assess eligibility and determine the best courses aligned with their educational goals.
- EPIE also assists with transcript procurement and translation, streamlining the enrollment process and eligibility evaluation.
Ready to start your journey with FHSU?
Admission Deadline and Requirements