A 12-member delegation from Hunan University of Arts and Science arrived at Colorado State University Pueblo this week to reignite an international partnership interrupted by the pandemic. Their visit signals renewed momentum toward student exchanges and cross-cultural academic programs first launched in 2018.
The delegation arrived Sunday after a week at CSU Fort Collins. Most of the visiting professors specialize in engineering, with others representing media, entertainment, and visual arts. They will remain on campus through Thursday before returning to China.
“They’re here to see the campus, observe classes, and learn about teaching techniques in U.S. higher education,” said Lilia Myers Van Pelt, CSU Pueblo’s international student advisor and programming coordinator. The group toured the library on Monday and began observing classes, including a session in a media and entertainment course.
The delegation joined a class taught by Assistant Professor of Media and Entertainment Shahrzad “Sherry” Dadgar, where students presented their final video projects. The visit offered the professors a close look at how American students build multimedia portfolios and approach production work. Dadgar explained that she designs her final assignments with professional relevance in mind.
“As an educator with a freelance background, I try to create final projects that students can use when they apply for internships or jobs,” Dadgar told the group. She outlined the course’s five major assignments which range from a documentary to advertisements. Each assignment is intended to strengthen students’ portfolios.
The first screening was a 10-minute black-and-white silent film created by an exchange student. The film told the story of an injured dancer and her reluctant partner. Dadgar invited the visiting professors to participate in the feedback process, awarding extra-credit points based on the projects’ quality and professional appeal. She eased the tension of the evaluation by turning it into what she called “a fun and games activity,” which welcomed the international guests and gave students a comfortable way to receive outside critique. After a brief technical glitch—“any filmmaker’s nightmare,” Dadgar joked—the class settled in to watch the film together.
Hunan University of Arts and Science, a comprehensive institution with nearly 60 years of history, is located in Changde in China’s Hunan province. It serves about 24,000 students, with roughly 900 enrolled in globally focused programs through its International College. Dean Ding, who leads international studies at HUAS, joined the delegation to explore new areas of collaboration.
“We want to help promote CSU Pueblo in China,” said CSU Pueblo College of STEM Dean David Lempuhl. “Their faculty want opportunities to teach short courses here, maybe two and a half weeks.”
The two universities signed a two-plus-two transfer agreement in 2018 that would allow HUAS students to complete two years in China and two years at CSU Pueblo before earning a bachelor’s degree. The pandemic stalled those plans.
“The pandemic happened,” said Assistant Dean of Student Support and Advocacy Bonnie Fruland. “This visit gives us a chance to revisit our collaboration agreements.”
During meetings with deans from the College of Humanities and Social Sciences and the STEM division, conversations shifted toward a possible three-plus-one model. Students would spend three years in China and one year in Pueblo.
“A lot of that comes down to finances for the students,” Lempuhl said. “The exchange rate makes it difficult for students from rural China to study here. The three-plus-one model could make the program accessible to more students.”
CSU Pueblo offers one distinct advantage. Through Pueblo’s RISE Initiative, an effort tied to the city’s sister-city partnerships, students from regions including Hunan qualify for in-state equivalent tuition rather than international rates.
During the reception, Frank Ortega from Pueblo’s Sister City Commission presented each visitor with a welcome bag filled with local products, including green chili salsa and chili-flavored coffee. “Pueblo is famous for the chilies,” Ortega said as he unpacked the gifts. The commission maintains partnerships with six sister cities around the world, including one in China.
“I love that part of our sister city commission,” Ortega said. “I want to go to China. I want to go to all these places and meet new people.”
Fruland sees the visit as a foundation for deeper collaboration.
“The next step is to sign an international MOU so that we can continue these collaboration conversations,” Fruland said. She does not yet know how many students may eventually participate in exchanges, but remains optimistic.
The partnership could extend in both directions. Discussions included opportunities for CSU Pueblo faculty to teach in China. Dr. Sue, a CSU Pueblo faculty member with Chinese heritage, may be well positioned for such an exchange.
“There might be a possibility there,” Lempuhl said, noting that federal visa policies add complexity to faculty exchanges.
For now, both sides are moving deliberately. The visit focused on relationship-building rather than immediate commitments.
“We can continue to collaborate to create a better environment for our students as well as yours,” Tristan told the delegation. “We hope that we can continue to work toward something.”
As the week continues, HUAS faculty will attend more classes, meet with department chairs, and explore Pueblo beyond campus. They leave Thursday with a deeper understanding of CSU Pueblo and likely several green-chili souvenirs.
Whether the visit leads to sustained student exchanges and faculty collaboration remains to be seen. But the renewed dialogue suggests both institutions are committed to making progress.
