By Christiana SchmitzThe Daily Northwestern
Northwestern President Henry Bienen said Friday that Northwestern is in the running for the opportunity to set up a campus abroad.
Bienen would not specify where the international campus would be but said the administration is discussing the possibility of expanding. NU has received invitations from universities overseas and made a proposal, he said.
“We’ve been asked to compete … in a sense that we’re really on a short list,” Bienen said.
He added that even if the university were invited abroad, there are no guarantees administrators would choose to support overseas expansion.
“The university would not want any risk in terms of money outlets,” Bienen said. “If they won’t raise the money, then goodbye, I’m not interested.”
Expanding NU’s borders would improve its reputation as a global university, he said.
“If you’re in the right place, it can give you a reputational increase,” Bienen said.
U.S. universities such as Boston University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Carnegie Mellon University, Georgetown University and the University of Chicago all have degree programs abroad to offer their students.
“It’s true that a lot of growth (in higher education) is going to take place outside of the U.S.,” said Bienen.
NU’s Kellogg School of Management is included in the growing list of schools with campuses abroad. Kellogg has programs and connections overseas in Europe and Asia.
International student adviser Nick W. Seamons said an international campus would solidify what he considers the already healthy international reputation NU has among peer institutions.
“Northwestern attracts based on its name wherever it is,” Seamon said.
He predicted that if the university were to expand overseas, then it would draw more domestic students and encourage them to study abroad.
Brian E. Davis, the director of U.S. admission for the University of Richmond, an American International University in London, said unlike the U.S. schools that have expanded overseas, the University of Richmond is an American university founded in London. It offers degrees that are accredited in both the U.S. and U.K.
“There are very few colleges that have free-standing American colleges overseas,” David said.
He said it is more typical for American universities to relocate their students and professors abroad.
“We call them American ghetto programs,” Davis said.
Seamons said international students make a lot of sacrifices to come to NU for a quality education.
“(They) come to Northwestern because they like to be in Chicago and on campus here,” Seamon said.
Felix Wu, a McCormick sophomore, said he came to NU because of its location in the United States.
Wu attended an international high school in Hong Kong but said he felt that the campus’ international focus was not enough to counteract cultural influences due to its location within the country.
“Outside of school it’s still very much Hong Kong,” Wu said.
Wu said even if NU had a campus in Hong Kong, he would still have chosen to leave in favor of attending college in the United States. He said he plans to work in the U.S. after he graduates.
Bienen also said many companies are going abroad and that a large number of NU students will be working for companies based overseas.
“For all sorts of reasons, it’s important to have a good reputation abroad,” Bienen said.
Reach Christiana Schmitz at [email protected].
