International Relations
NorthStar Visiting Scholar Academy
Thank you for your interest in Bemidji State University’s NorthStar Visiting Scholar
Academy. The purpose of the Academy is to enhance understanding and cooperation
between scholars who are from China and those who are from the United States. To help
achieve this goal, we have created this non-profit Academy within our university and we
look forward to welcoming qualified individuals to participate in a process where mutual
academic enrichment takes place. A brief description of the program is as follows:
All visiting scholars will regularly attend seminars, workshops, and some classes at
Bemidji State University during their stay here. These sessions will focus on crosscultural and academic exchange conference, and will help visiting scholars to better
understand the US education system, the US cultural environment, and other aspects of
life in the US. In addition, visiting scholars will also have access to selected other classes
of their choice on campus on a non-credit basis. This may very from one semester to the
next.
Scholars will thus be in a better position to compare and contrast the US and Chinese
environments along several dimensions, including educational, cultural, and
governmental.
All visiting scholars will be assigned a professor at Bemidji State University to serve as a
mentor during their stay at the university. Ideally this professor will belong to the same
discipline as the visiting scholar, but not always. This will permit the visiting scholar to
better understand the US educational system as well as to work on research projects
based on common interests.
Mentors will assist the visiting scholar in receiving permission to attend other lectures or
classes of interest while they are at Bemidji State University.
Bemidji State University will arrange a series of activities to help visiting scholars to
better understand the history and culture of Minnesota and the United States through
visits to historical sites, state and national parks, local businesses, Native American
Reservations, local school districts, and other places of interest.
Accommodations for visiting scholars will be arranged and will consist of furnished
apartments that are either on the Bemidji State University campus or close to it. Each
visiting scholar will have their own bedroom, while kitchens, bathrooms, and other living
spaces may be shared with other visiting scholars of the same sex. Accommodations are
provided for the visiting scholars only; additional family members may not share these
accommodations, although additional accommodations may be arranged for family
members at an additional cost provided that such visits take place during times that are
permitted by the Visiting Scholar Agreement.
Under the NorthStar Academy Visiting Scholar program, we will accommodate a visiting
scholar on our campus for one semester for a fee of $6,500 (or one academic year for a
fee of $13,000) and provide them with the following:
- A fully furnished single bedroom in an apartment, including most utilities
- Office space, research facilities, internet and campus intranet access
- Semester long seminars on the US Education System, Culture and Government
- Access to selected classes on campus, the library, and other campus facilities
- A Bemidji State University faculty member as a mentor and facilitator
- Sightseeing and field trips in Minnesota
- Other campus / community events as applicable
The following costs are not included in the program fee above
- Round trip travel costs to Bemidji
- Visa fees where applicable
- Personal expenses and food
- Health insurance (required; approximately $900 / semester or $1,300 / year)
- $200 Campus SuperFee (access to Student Health Center and Recreation Center)
- Accommodation security deposit, if applicable (refundable)
- Intensive English Language classes of your choice
Bemidji State University operates an English Language Center for intensive instruction in
English. Four separate classes are offered: Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking.
Each class meets for one hour each day, 5 days a week. The fee per class per semester is
$750. Scholars may choose to attend any of these classes if they wish to do by paying the
required fee. Attending these classes is optional and not required; however, many
scholars find these classes to be very valuable and should you think that you may benefit
from some additional instruction in English, Bemidji State University recommends
attendance in at least the Listening and Speaking classes.
If you are interested in participating in our NorthStar Visiting Scholar Academy, please
carefully complete the following items and send them to me via e-mail. We cannot
process incomplete applications, so please make sure all the items listed below are
included in your application.
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A completed Visiting Scholar Information /Application form
A copy of your passport information page with your photograph
Your CV
Your plan for study or research while you are at Bemidji State University
A letter of financial support from your university, government, or employer
A personal bank statement
A completed Scholar Agreement
Documentation of English Proficiency
If you wish, you may also submit your documents through the following organization:
Beijing Victorhill Education Consulting Ltd.
#1709, Building 13, Houxiandai City
Baiziwan
Chaoyang District
Beijing, China 100020
Tel: +86 1380 128 7597
This organization is authorized to represent Bemidji State University’s NorthStar Visiting
Scholar Academy and to process documentation for applicants in order to ensure that
their application package is complete. They are also authorized to verify a candidate’s
English proficiency. The organization’s fee for this service, payable directly to Beijing
Victorhill Education Consulting, is RMB 3,000.
After we receive these items, and if your application is approved, we will issue an
invitation letter to you. Since space in the Academy is limited and we have many
qualified applicants, if you choose to accept the invitation, we will require a deposit of
25% of the program fee by bank transfer in order to reserve your place in the program.
Once this deposit is received, we will be happy to assist you in providing the
documentation that you will require in order to apply for a J visa.
We look forward to receiving your application.
Sincerely,
Sanjeev Phukan, PhD
Director of International Relations