Faculty Opportunity

Photo: Ryan Shirey leading class at Soong Ching Ling School in Shanghai, China, August 2018

Mission

The Wake Forest University Program at Soong Ching Ling School will provide faculty with cross-cultural experiences to broaden their global mindset and better understand Chinese culture and students’ educational background. Students will gain academic skills, confidence, and a greater appreciation for both arts and sciences prior to entering U.S. colleges and universities.

Faculty Opportunities

Each August, the Wake Forest University Program at Soong Ching Ling School hosts two non-credit courses designed to inculcate an appreciation for the arts and sciences in future U.S. university students. Each course is two-weeks long, and they are designed to build on one another to provide students a gradual introduction to U.S. collegiate level academic work and faculty interaction.

Year 1: Academic Writing

In August of each year, WFU will offer an academic writing course designed to enhance students’ ability to structure academic essays; find, use, and cite academic sources; and improve grammar, syntax, and readability.

Once students successfully complete the academic writing course, they are eligible to apply to the Arts and Sciences courses in subsequent years.

Details:

  • Courses are eight days weeks long, with 2.5 hrs teaching and 1.5 hours supervised study blocks Monday-Friday
  • Courses are capped at 20 students
  • A WFU Chinese student serves as a Teaching Assistant
  • Access to WFU Writing Center Tutors can be arranged
  • Teaching Stipend is provided
  • Students are rising 8th-11th graders

Year 2+: Arts and Sciences Courses

WFU will offer a two short courses, each taught by one faculty member, one representing the Arts and one the Sciences. Faculty will teach a total of four days each, alternating days (e.g., M, W, F, Tu or Tu, Th, M, W). Students will enroll in one or both.

This model is designed to provide students a better appreciation for a diverse academic experience while preparing them to navigate multiple topics with faculty.

Details:

  • Courses are eight days long, with 2.5 hrs teaching and 1.5 hours supervised study blocks Monday-Friday
  • Courses are capped at 15 students
  • Access to WFU Writing Center Tutors can be arranged
  • Teaching Stipends are provided
  • Students are rising 9th-11th graders who completed the Year 1 Academic Writing program successfully

Prior Programs and Faculty

August 2019
Academic Writing

Faculty:
Ryan Shirey, PhD, Associate Teaching Professor, English
Carter Smith, PhD, Assistant Teaching Professor, English

Dr. Shirey and Dr. Smith taught the third Academic Writing course at Soong Ching Ling School to a class of 16 rising 8th and 9th grade students with the assistance of Shuqi Zheng, WFU ’22.

Moment Creation
August 2019

Faculty:
Cindy Gendrich, PhD, Professor of Theater

Dr. Gendrich led a class of six students who completed the Academic Writing course in a week-and-a-half long course designed to be similar to a very shortened first-year seminar on applications of theatre and the creation of a moment of art or storytelling.

Leadership and Social Dynamics
August 2019

Faculty:
Holly Brower, PhD, Associate Professor of Business

Dr. Brower led a class of six students who completed the Academic Writing course in a week-and-a-half long course designed to be similar to a very shortened first-year seminar on applications of leadership, self-awareness, and social dynamics.

Photo: Blair Bocook, Kline Harrison, and Nelson Brunsting share a photo with the students who completed the WFU Program at Soong Ching Ling School in January 2018 in Shanghai, China

January 2018 Academic Writing

Faculty and Staff:
Nelson Brunsting, International Studies
Kline Harrison, Associate Provost for Global Affairs
Blair Bocook, International Student and Scholar Services

The inaugural academic writing course was offered during the first week of WFU’s spring semester, so a three-person team filled in to teach academic writing for 20 8th and 9th graders.

Photo: Soong Ching Ling School students participate in Dr. Ryan Shirey's class in Shanghai in August 2018.

August 2018 Academic Writing

Faculty and Staff:
Ryan Shirey, English
Jingnan “Bill” Wang, WFU Sophomore

Dr. Shirey taught the second Academic Writing course at Soong Ching Ling School to a class of 12 rising 8th and 9th grade students with the assistance of Bill Wang.

Photo: Carole Gibson teaching at Soong Ching Ling School in Shanghai China in August 2018.

August 2018 Biotechnology

Faculty and Staff:
Carole Gibson, Biology
Wenyan Hou, WFU Junior

Carole Gibson led a class of six students who completed the Academic Writing course in January in a week-and-a-half long course designed to be similar to a very shortened first-year seminar on applications and ethical challenges of biotechnology with the assistance of Wenyan Hou.