May 2008

Welcome to e-TrueBlue: China, brought to you by the Alumni Association of the University of Michigan. Our goal is to provide you a regular communication to update you on our efforts to build a global program that benefits the University and its faculty, students and alumni.

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Club News and Events

Carr to speak at three exciting venues

In celebration of the Summer Olympic Games in China, retired U-M football coach Lloyd Carr will be featured at the 2008 alumni presentations and receptions in China, speaking on the universality of sports and athletic competition.

Carr, who was head football coach from 1995 to 2008, concluded his coaching career by leading the unranked Wolverines to a spectacular win over the No. 12-ranked University of Florida team in the Capital One Bowl on January 1. He is now associate athletic director for U-M and, while he has met with and spoken to thousands of alumni across the US, this is his first official appearance on behalf of the University in China. President Mary Sue Coleman personally recommended that he join the delegation this year. He and his wife, Laurie, are enthusiastic about participating. Ken Lieberthal, U-M professor of business and political science and one of the world's leading experts on China, has been "coaching" Carr about the visit. Carr, who once said he would have been happy being an English teacher and is known as a voracious reader, is reading Lieberthal's introductory classroom text about China in preparation.

Other U-M leaders include Alumni Association President and CEO Steve Grafton—returning for his third visit—U-M Vice President Jerry May, College of Engineering Associate Dean Jack Hu, MSE'86, PhD'90, and Campaign for Michigan Chairman Rich Rogel, '70. Associate Vice President for Development Jefferson Porter and AAUM Vice President Jo Rumsey, '71, MA'76, are also joining the delegation.

Events will take place in these exciting venues:

Hong Kong
Thursday, May 29, 6:30-9 p.m., Hong Kong Jockey Club
RSVP to hongkong-reception@umich.edu or 9459.3105 or 2526.6836

The Hong Kong Jockey Club is one of the oldest membership clubs in Asia, dating back to 1884. It is the largest taxpayer in Hong Kong, as well as the largest private donor of charity funds annually over the last 10 years, and presently has more than 20,000 members. Its award-winning chefs create sophisticated Chinese and Western dining experiences. U-M alumni will meet at the Happy Valley Racecourse, "an oasis of green in the heart of Hong Kong Island" that has been hosting horse races since 1846. Enjoy sweeping views of the track from your spot on the third level. The club's world-class racing facility at Sha Tin is a major venue for the 2008 Olympic equestrian events.

Shanghai
Saturday, May 31, 6:30-9 p.m., 1933
RSVP to shanghai-reception@umich.edu or 021.3420.4934 or 021.3420.4172

Some of you will remember our event at the art gallery in Three on the Bund, the impressive Shanghai property that U-M graduate Paul Liu, '83, helped transform to world renown. This year we will experience 1933, Liu's latest project in Shanghai. You will find it hard to believe that this elegant facility was once the largest abattoir in Asia. The five interconnected buildings of this creative hub are home to design firms, boutiques and restaurants. Beneath a magnificent dome on the top level of the central building is a performance space with a glass floor.

Beijing
Tuesday, June 3, 6:30-9 p.m., Beijing American Club
RSVP to beijing-reception@umich.edu or 86.10.6276.6210

Located in the northwest corner of Jianguomen and perched atop the prestigious China Resources Building, the Beijing American Club sprawls over a luxurious 5,500 square meters. The U-M event has panoramic views of central Beijing in all directions from the 28th floor, and the staff is incredibly attentive and takes great pleasure in ensuring the finest in food and beverage. Other US institutions of higher education, including Stanford University and the Wharton School, also host programs here.

This will be U-M's third event at both the Hong Kong Jockey Club's Happy Valley Suite and the Beijing American Club, and U-M is fortunate to have alumni who are members at both venues. This is U-M’s second year at a Paul Liu-related venue in Shanghai, which is a reflection of his alumni loyalty.

Take advantage of networking opportunities and put in your business card to win Michigan-related prizes during the "lucky draw." Readers are urged to share information about these events with alumni and friends in China; find details at our China Alumni Relations Web site.

Michigan News

Chinese auto conference at U-M

U-M researchers and Chinese auto executives met April 8 at the University to discuss a variety of changes taking place in the Chinese auto industry. The conference, "Inside China: Understanding China's Current and Future Automotive Industry," was sponsored by the U-M Transportation Research Institute, Center for Chinese Studies and Office for the Vice President of Research. Researchers addressed a range of topics, including the changing manufacturer landscape, near-term buyer preferences, new labor developments, manufacturing capabilities, research and development and intellectual property, vehicle and road safety statistics, and trends in imports and exports.

Public health expands Tianjin CDC partnership

The School of Public Health's Office of Public Health Practice expanded its partnership with a major provincial Center for Disease Control in China when it opened a Practice Office at the Tianjin CDC this month. Tianjin is a metropolitan area of about 11 million people southeast of Beijing. Dr. Matthew Boulton, associate dean for practice at the school, worked out details for the new overseas office with Tianjin CDC's general director, Professor Xiexiu Wang. Boulton visited Tianjin in February along with 30 students from the school's Public Health Action Support Team. The students spent their spring break on a practice-based learning experience hosted by the Tianjin CDC. Several more exchanges between the two institutions are planned.

Alumni Association News

Stay connected with our online community

inCircle, the Alumni Association's online directory and networking community for U-M alumni and students, is growing. Use inCircle to connect with old friends, find people who share your interests, find a job or create a group for U-M alumni who live and work in your region of the world. All you need to get started are a uniqname and password. Don't have a uniqname? You can register for one online.

Update your University record

The Alumni Association is committed to keeping you informed about our efforts to build a global alumni program. We are better able to meet this goal if your contact information with the University is updated. More than 500 alumni from China and Hong Kong have already updated their records. You can update your University record online at http://alumni.umich.edu/china/AAUMChinaRec.php.

Projects and Partnerships

Second visit by Chinese education leaders

The second Michigan-China University Leadership Forum is currently under way. A delegation of about 25 Chinese higher education leaders is visiting from May 11 through May 25. The delegation consists of university presidents, vice presidents and party chairs, as well as public officials. Some of the top Chinese universities are represented, including Fudan University, Sichuan University, Chongqing University, Nanjing University, Central South University, Jiangnan University, Dalian University of Technology, China Agricultural University, Tsinghua University, Zhejiang University, Jilin University, Southeast University and Hunan University.

The focus of the forum is the University Research Corridor, a cooperative effort to promote a knowledge economy by the state of Michigan's three biggest research universities: the University of Michigan, Wayne State University and Michigan State University. The Chinese Ministry of Education, which organized and financed the forum, also requested discussion on strategic planning and budgeting; research, tech transfer and economic development; undergraduate and graduate education; building a world-class faculty; and the management of medical schools.

U-M President Mary Sue Coleman is hosting the forum in Ann Arbor, as she did in 2006. Members of the delegation will attend events at the Alumni Center, home of the Alumni Association, during their visit.

Bentley-China State Archives joint venture

A professional exchange program that aims to understand the differences between the work of archivists in the US and China has shown that the two actually share many of the same issues and challenges. For at least 15 years, three to five archivists from U-M's Bentley Historical Library and School of Information have alternated annual visits with about 30 archivists from China.

"There has been an almost instant connection as we find out how similar our work really is," said Francis X. Blouin Jr., director of the Bentley Historical Library. "The goals of the exchange are to get a better appreciation of the differences in our national systems of archival work. The Chinese are very centralized—the US is very decentralized. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. We are particularly interested in varied approaches to the public face of the archives."

The Chinese archivists, who spend about three weeks in Ann Arbor, are admitted to the program by a competitive examination given throughout the country by the State Archives Administration of China, headquartered in Beijing. Blouin says China has more than 1 million archivists. Earlier groups have been young archivists; this fall, senior archivists will travel from China to Ann Arbor.

Blouin said the international exchange requires much formality. "Dinners require formal speeches and appropriate toasts. A first visit to an archival institution requires proper introductions that are a bit more formal in China than in our country." But such formality helps break the cultural ice. "There is a very precise protocol. We find it very helpful in the process of getting to know colleagues." For more information about the program, visit the Bentley Historical Library site.

Global Intercultural Experience for Undergraduates

As part of U-M's Global Intercultural Experience for Undergraduates Program, 15 students from the School of Literature, Science, and the Arts are spending four weeks in Beijing this month. They are meeting with 15 Chinese students at Peking University to discuss social justice issues as citizens and students within major world powers. As a result of their dialogue, they plan to come up with a joint action project for the last few days of the experience. This is a pilot project of the Program in Intergroup Relations, a social justice education program at the University. In addition to their work in Beijing, the U-M students will have the opportunity to take a few side trips while in China.

"It is important that the students of our two major nations meet each other as equals to listen and engage on common projects and issues," said AT Miller, director of the GIEU. "The Global Intercultural Experience for Undergraduates is happy to partner with the Program on Intergroup Relations to bring their expertise to the international arena."

Student Spotlight

Meet Yan Liu

Although he came to U-M to pursue his PhD in biology, Yan Liu discovered a passion for history that eventually led him to study the history of Chinese science and technology. He hopes these studies will result in a career that combines both interests. In this issue's student spotlight, Liu discusses his PhD studies in biology as well as his current studies in history.

Alumni Spotlight

Meet Shen Mingming

Shen Mingming, PhD'94, is professor of political science at Peking University's School of Government and director of the Research Center on Contemporary China. Learn more about Shen, his research and his comments on hosting retired U-M football coach Lloyd Carr when he comes to China with the 2008 U-M delegation in this issue's alumni spotlight.

Did You Know?

A look at China-USA facts

Here are several interesting comparisons between China and the US. The information comes from the CIA's World Factbook.

As the Chinese Relations program continues to evolve, our goal is to update you on our efforts to build a global program that benefits the University and its faculty and students. If you would like to be on the permanent eTrueBlue: China mailing list, please send an email request to cjspiess@umich.edu.

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Alumni Association of the University of Michigan, 200 Fletcher St., Ann Arbor, MI, 734.764.0384, 800.847.4764, m.alumni@umich.edu