20 lines
3.4 KiB
Plaintext
20 lines
3.4 KiB
Plaintext
Beginning with the founding of St. John’s University in 1865, the Protestant Church established, in all, 13 Christian universities in regions of mainland China, making a great contribution to the nation’s higher education.
|
||
However, after 1949 these institutions were forced to close, thereby frustrating Christian education.
|
||
The following year, a group of enthusiastic Chinese educators proposed to the United Board for Christian Colleges in China to foster the spirit of Chinese youth by establishing an ideal university in Taiwan, that would both continue the work of Christian education in China and inherit the grand tradition of the 13 mainland universities.
|
||
In 1952, the Board’s secretary, Dr. William P. Fenn, made a trip to Taiwan to investigate the possibility.
|
||
He decided to establish a university that would meet Taiwan’s needs and also maintain the highest academic standards.
|
||
In June of 1953, the Board sent Dr. Thomas W. Graham of Oberlin College, Ohio representing the organization, together with Dr.
|
||
Fenn to set up a preparatory office and board to oversee the establishment of the school.
|
||
They appointed Dr. Li-wu Hang to chair both the office and board.
|
||
After careful assessment, Ta-tu Hill, west to Taichung City, was chosen as the site of the campus.
|
||
The school was named Tunghai University meaning Eastern Sea to China.
|
||
On November 10, 1953, the Board published “The Aims and Purposes of Tunghai University.” This included discussions of: the creation of an institution devoted to the free search for truth; the philosophy that admission requirements should recognize character and purpose as well as great academic promise placing emphasis on quality over quantity, as well as collective living and academic goals; the promotion of a student work program, in addition to the academic curriculum, in order to train the whole person; the free exercise of faith in order to foster the spirit of democracy and freedom; respect for China’s history and cultural traditions, as well as the duty to engage in East-West cultural dialogue; and most importantly, that all these educational ideals be expressed and cultivated throughout Taiwanese society and then spread to every corner of the globe.
|
||
On November 11 of the same year, American Vice-president Richard Nixon arrived in Taichung to preside over Tunghai University’s ground breaking ceremony.
|
||
After this, the Board, having officially taken over the campus, commissioned I.
|
||
M. Pei, C. K. Chen, and Chao-kang Chang to design the campus and commence the construction of the school.
|
||
At the same time, it was decided that the colleges of Arts and Science must first be established.
|
||
Included within the College of Arts were the departments of Chinese Literature, Foreign Languages, and History, while the College of Science was made up of the departments of Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Chemical Engineering.
|
||
The Board also appointed Mr. Beauson Tseng to be the first President of the University.
|
||
In July of 1955, an independent exam was offered for admittance to the first term, and 200 students were accepted.
|
||
On November 2, opening ceremonies for the University were held, and this day was made Founder’s Day.
|
||
Since the time of its founding, Tunghai has had a highly creative and experimental spirit, offering innovations such as its Student Labor Program, general education, open library stacks, and a student honor code, all of which were never before seen in the history of Chinese education. |