Due to a lack of student interest, the Winter Term trip “Environmental Leadership in China” has been cancelled, forcing the six students who had signed up for the trip to make alternate plans for January.
The trip intended to focus on sharing and discussing the different culture’s environmental views. Students would have engaged in intercultural communication and seek to expand their global perspective.
The trip, which was being planned by Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Sustainability Chair Carol Steele and associate professor of modern languages Sherry Mou, included visits to three different locations in China.
Two students who had attended an Environmental Leadership Program last summer were also assisting with trip preparations, using the summer program as a model for the Winter Term trip.
The intended itinerary included a five-day environmental workshop with 10 Chinese college students, a tour of Beijing, a visit to Chengdu — home of panda bears, rare geological formations and the cultural hub of southwestern China — and an opportunity to participate in the cultural events of Chinese New Year in Sichuan.
“This trip is about environmental education and intercultural communication, which we designed to take students to some of the fabulous natural sceneries in China while spending time interacting with Chinese college students,” said assistant planner Xinxin Liu, a senior.
“We hoped to integrate observing China’s beautiful nature reserves and endangered species with discussions with Chinese university students about various environmental issues,” Steele said.
Despite the extensive planning already done and attempts to advertise the trip, only six students signed up.
In order for the trip to be financially feasible, at least 20 students needed to join.
“I noticed trips that had been around for a while were much more popular with students,” Steele said. “Students were probably more comfortable to sign up for a trip if they were able to talk to other students who had already done it and hear about their experiences.”
The trip also faced competition from two other Winter Term trips to China, which likely affected the lack of student interest.
Those involved with the trip also believe that there was a lack of publicity and that students never heard about the interesting opportunities the trip offered.
“There were quite a few changes in the application process this year, and we didn’t think those were explained clearly to us,” Mou said. “As a result, we probably didn’t convey all the interesting content of the trip to the applicants.”
Both faculty and students that had signed up for the trip were surprised by the cancellation.
“I am really disappointed about the cancellation,” Liu said. “The trip was a great opportunity for students to communicate with students from another country, helping them to have a global perspective.”
“I’m not totally surprised, although I am disappointed,” Mou said. “We prepared a terrific opportunity for the students.”
While Steele and Mou were unsure as to whether or not this trip would be attempted again in the future, both were still interested in the topic and believed the trip would be a beneficial experience.
“I still think this trip is a great idea, and I enjoyed all the work I put into planning it,” Steele said. “Maybe we’ll try again. Maybe it just wasn’t the right time and place.”
