On September 13, the opening ceremony for the Freshmen Launch Year (FLY) program, a collaborative initiative between Stony Brook University (SBU) and Tongji University, was grandly held at the Hubei Campus. Thirty-eight freshmen from SBU, comprising students from both China and the United States, officially began their first academic semester at Tongji University. Leaders, faculty representatives, and all participating students and their families gathered to witness this significant milestone.
Prior to the ceremony, all students successfully completed their registration procedures on September 12 and moved into the student dormitories, fully preparing for the new semester.
During the opening ceremony, Ms. Lindsi Walker, Senior Associate Provost for International Affairs at Stony Brook University; Professor Chen Yili, Director of the International Student Office at Tongji University; and Professor Jin Fu’an, Dean of the College of Continuing Education at Tongji University, delivered speeches. They extended their warm congratulations to the students and expressed high expectations for the high-quality development of the FLY program. They emphasized that the in-depth collaboration between the two institutions not only broadens the pathways for cultivating global talent but also injects strong momentum into people-to-people exchanges between China and other countries in the new era.
Following the addresses, Professor Chen Yili and Ms. Jeanine Guilbealt, representing Stony Brook University, provided detailed introductions to the academic resources, campus culture, course arrangements, academic support, and living guidelines at both universities. This information aims to help the freshmen adapt more quickly to their new environment and embrace this new chapter.
The Tongji-SBU FLY program is a tailored international exchange plan for SBU freshmen. Participants enroll as full-time undergraduate students at Stony Brook University and spend their first semester studying at Tongji University. All credits earned during the program are fully transferable to SBU, ensuring a seamless academic transition.
After the ceremony, faculty mentors from both universities led the freshmen on a tour of Tongji University’s Siping Road Campus. They visited teaching buildings, the library, sports facilities, and student living areas to help the students familiarize themselves with their future learning and living environment. A welcome banquet held in the evening further facilitated communication and friendship between Chinese and American students through cordial exchanges.
This opening ceremony marks a new chapter in the Tongji-SBU FLY program, deepening the strategic partnership between the two universities and expanding the scope and significance of Sino-foreign cooperative education. Moving forward, both institutions will continue to work together to build a high-quality international education platform, serving as a bridge for communication, mutual learning, and progress between Chinese and American youth. This initiative will support them in pursuing excellence and achieving remarkable success in their academic and personal growth.
