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Introducing the GAC Academic Committee
The ACT Learning Division is putting an emphasis on innovation, ushering in a new era of the Global Assessment Certificate (GAC) to think globally and deliver locally. Under new Learning Division leadership, the ACT GAC will continue to play a crucial role in the international education community, providing a practical, holistic, skills- and competencies-based college readiness program.
This is why the ACT GAC Academic Committee has been established. The committee will guide the ACT GAC program to achieve its mission and priorities, ensure the continuing quality of the ACT GAC Curriculum and global GAC academic program policy implementation, build and strengthen partnerships within GAC regional and local teaching centers, and communicate ACT GAC curriculum quality improvement to schools, parents, and educational institutions.
The committee’s primary goal is to guide the renewal of the GAC curriculum and assessment content to ensure GAC academic quality of competency-based education.
The committee’s first task was to develop and conduct a GAC teacher and school manager survey to listen to our stakeholders. The purpose was to bring teachers and GAC school managers’ voices into decision-making in prioritization of the GAC curriculum improvement planning. Scroll down to learn more about this survey.
In May 2020, ACT GAC Academic Committee was established with current members:
- Dr. Changhua Rich
- Anne Zheng
- Dr. Heather Wilmot
- Marimin Lopez (Moebian)
Changhua Rich,
Principal Research Scientist, ACT, Inc.
Anne Zheng,
GAC Global Academic Director, ACT, Inc.
Heather Wilmot,
Director, Curriculum & Digital Learning, ACT, Inc.
Changhua Rich,
Principal Research Scientist, ACT, Inc.
Introducing the GAC Academic Committee
Jin Yuxuan
Yichang Yiling Tianwen International High School
University College London
ACT GAC Student Merit Award—China
Kyungdeok Park
Edu Asia GAC Center (Korea)
The University at Buffalo (GAC Pathway University)
Admitted to UB Honors College
Li Ge
Nanjing Foreign Language School XianLin Campus (China)
University of Toronto—St. George
ACT GAC Student Merit Award—China
Liu Yucheng
Taiyuan ACT-GAC Center Vantage Academy
(China)
University College London
ACT GAC Student Merit Award—China
Meng Lingchen
Zhengzhou Cornerstone High School (China)
McGill University
ACT GAC Student Merit Award—China
Pang Xiyu
Hebei Normal University GAC Center (China)
The University of Queensland
ACT GAC Student Merit Award—China
Ren Yufei
Qingdao ACT GAC Center (China)
University of California, Irvine
ACT GAC Student Merit Award—China
Shen Xiyue
Zhengzhou Middle School PGA Teaching Center (China)
Bryn Mawr College
ACT GAC Student Merit Award—China
Song Yifei
Xi'an Tieyi High School PGA Teaching Center (China)
Brown University
ACT GAC Student Merit Award—China
Wu Haotian
High School Affiliated to Harbin Normal University (China)
Ohio State University
ACT GAC Student Merit Award—China
Wu Xiuyuan
Nanjing Foreign Language School XianLin Campus (China)
New York University
ACT GAC Student Merit Award—China
Yao Han
Second High School Attached to Beijing Normal
University PGA Teaching Center (China)
University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill
ACT GAC Student Merit Award—China
Zhang Xinwan
Second High School Attached to Beijing Normal
University PGA Teaching Center (China)
Smith College
ACT GAC Student Merit Award—China
Zhao Langyue
Harbin No. 3 High School GAC Approved Teaching Center (China)
New York University
ACT GAC Student Merit Award—China
Zhao Jiahui
The First High School of Changsha, Hunan (China)
The University of Edinburgh
ACT GAC Student Merit Award—China
Zhou Yanjun
Second High School Attached to Beijing Normal
University PGA Teaching Center (China)
University of Pennsylvania
ACT GAC Student Merit Award—China
GAC is Now in Brazil!
ACT is pleased to announce that, as a result of our partnership with Edify Education, the GAC program is now available to schools in Brazil under the brand name Edify College Prep by ACT. Edify has a long history of delivering quality bilingual education products and services in Brazil, and that tradition continues with Edify College Prep by ACT. Under Edify’s direction, six schools in Rio De Janeiro (listed below) have become GAC Centers in the first year of the ACT/Edify partnership!
| School | Location | Program |
|---|---|---|
| Beijing Foreign Studies University International Business School | Beijing, China | GAC |
| Beijing Qinghua Zhiqing High School | Beijing, China | GAC |
| China-UK College Shenzhen | Guangdong, China | GAC |
| Deyuan High School of Tianjin | Tianjin, China | GAC |
| Guanghua Cambridge International School | Shanghai, China | GAC |
| Hailiang Foreign Language School | Zhejiang, China | GAC |
| International Business School, Beijing Foreign Studies University | Beijing, China | GAC |
| Junhwa International School, Jinhua City | Zhejiang, China | GAC |
| Living Word Shanghai | Shanghai, China | GAC |
| Shanghai United International School Pudong Academy | Shanghai, China | GAC |
| Peking University Experimental School (Nanning) | Guangxi, China | GAC |
| Shanghai High Tech Creative School | Shanghai, China | GAC |
| Shanghai Hongrun Boyuan School | Shanghai, China | GAC |
| Shanghai International Studies University Hongkou Campus | Shanghai, China | GAC |
| Shanghai United International School Pudong Academy | Shanghai, China | GAC |
| Shenyang Zhongshan Private Senior High School | Liaoning, China | GAC |
| Shenzhen Vanke Meisha Academy | Shenzhen, China | GAC |
| The Barstow School Ningbo Campus | Zhejiang, China | GAC |
| Westlake International Academy | Fuzhou, China | GAC |
| Xining Macrolink International Academy, BFSU | Qinghai, China | GAC |
| Zhuozhou Senior High School Affiliated to BFSU | Hebei, China | GAC |
| KinderStation School | Yogyakarta, Central Java, Indonesia | GAC |
| SMA Muhammadiyah 1 Gresik | Gresik, East Java, Indonesia | GAC FE |
| SMP Kristen Petra 2 | Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia | EPP |
| SMP Kristen Petra 4 | Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia | EPP |
| Escola Dinâmica | Rio De Janeiro, Brazil | GAC |
| Fórum Cultural | Rio De Janeiro, Brazil | GAC |
| Colégio Guilherme Dumont Villares | Rio De Janeiro, Brazil | GAC |
| Colégio Iavne | Rio De Janeiro, Brazil | GAC |
| Escola Parque Barra | Rio De Janeiro, Brazil | GAC |
| Escola Parque Gávea | Rio De Janeiro, Brazil | GAC |
The GAC Pathway University Network is Growing
ACT is pleased to welcome the following schools into the GAC Pathway University network:
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, located in Winona, Minnesota, USA. Ranked among the first tier of Best Regional Universities Midwest 2020 and #13 Best Value Schools 2020 by US News & World Report.
At SMUMN, students find in every classroom a relationship-driven, person-centered education. We have a long tradition of serving students from many different backgrounds. International students from Asia, Africa, Europe, and South and North America are part of our student body today. We value the rich diversity in culture and experiences that international students bring to our campus. Professors and staff know students and challenge and support them as they grow to meet and exceed their expectations. We offer over 50 different academic majors, and the opportunities for undergraduate, residential students are endless—from participating in a vibrant campus life to real-world experiences through internships, study abroad, labs, service trips, field research and conference presentations.
Inside and outside of classrooms, students discover the truths in the world around them and the character within themselves. As a Lasallian Catholic university welcoming all students, Saint Mary's mission is to awaken, nurture, and empower students to ethical lives of leadership and service. Saint Mary’s enrolls 1,100 undergraduate students at the residential college in Winona.
GAC Mexico’s Pathway Elites
ACT works hard to facilitate connections between our GAC centers and students and the Pathway Universities that recognize the GAC for admissions purposes. GAC Mexico’s Pathway Elites program is a prime example. Working closely with ACT staff and ACT’s in-country partner Moebian, representatives of Mexican GAC centers have identified a group of Pathway Universities that offer exceptional value in terms of reputation, availability of scholarships, potential for transfer credits based on GAC coursework, and affordability. Mexican GAC centers will engage with Pathway Elite schools through a range of activities, including webinars for GAC schools/students, group tours of GAC centers by university personnel, university visits by GAC students and center staff, and university participation in Mexico’s annual GAC Summit and Professional Development Conference.
| GAC Mexico’s Pathway Elites |
|---|
| Abilene Christian University |
| California State University—Monterey Bay |
| Gannon University |
| Iowa State University |
| Lewis-Clark State College |
| Miami University of Ohio |
| Oklahoma State University |
| Rowan University |
| Saint Leo University |
| Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota |
| State University of New York—New Paltz |
| State University of New York— |
| State University of New York—Polytechnic Institute |
| The University at Buffalo, SUNY |
| University of Cincinnati |
| University of Delaware |
| University of Idaho |
| University of Iowa |
| University of Missouri |
| University of South Florida |
| University of Wisconsin-Superior |
Pathway Universities in Focus
Driven to Discover—Students Help Build Delaware Ground Station for NASA Mission
Note: This article is reprinted with permission from the University of Delaware.
Ahmad Tamimi is involved in the NASA CURIE mission, which is being led by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley and the University of Delaware (UD). CURIE—which stands for Cubesat Radio Interferometry Experiment—will use small satellites, about the size of a toaster oven, to gather data about the super-charged plasma that radiates from the sun, especially during solar flares. These violent eruptions of high-energy radiation can kill astronauts in space and damage electrical systems here on Earth.
Ahmad Tamimi (right), who is from Palestine and resides in Ramallah, is a rising junior. He is majoring in computer engineering with minors in computer science and cybersecurity.
University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
STUDY AMONG THE BEST
The University of Iowa is a Tier-1 public research university, ranked among the top 1% of universities worldwide. Expert faculty from all over the world gather at Iowa to pursue groundbreaking research and create powerful works of art. With Iowa’s small class sizes and low student-to-faculty ratio, you can form close connections with our esteemed instructors. We’re here to help you succeed.
The University of Iowa strives to provide international students with resources they need. Students can experience a supportive transition to the Hawkeye community. Specifically, the University of Iowa International Student & Scholar Services leads efforts to welcome, support, and retain the students and scholars who call Iowa home. The University of Iowa was one of the first to be an accepted GAC school in 2005.
200+ AREAS OF STUDY
Iowa offers over 200 majors, minors, and certificates. Students are encouraged to work across disciplines to find their passion. For a full list, visit admissions.uiowa.edu/200.
FIND YOUR HOME
As a student, having a home away from home and an inviting space to make your own is important. Living on campus provides students with a safe, friendly living environment, convenient dining options, and access to community events. Every residence hall is just blocks away from the heart of campus.
JOIN THE HAWKEYE FAMILY
Every Hawkeye is part of a family that spans the globe, but that doesn’t mean you’ll get lost in the crowd. With hundreds of communities and clubs to explore, along with world-class resources to help you navigate your college experience, you’ll quickly find your place at Iowa.
FIND YOUR FUTURE HERE
Iowa has the resources to help you succeed in the classroom and beyond. We lead the world in teaching graduates to write and communicate effectively, an essential skill in any career. Dedicated career advising, thousands of on-campus job interviews, and countless opportunities for hands-on learning make Iowa students stand out in the working world.
Learn more about how you can become a Hawkeye at the University of Iowa!
University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA
A major research university with global reach.
The University of Kansas (KU) is home to more than 2,100 international students from over 100 countries. KU is a part of the Association of American Universities, providing students across all majors with research grants and opportunities as early as their freshman year. Lawrence, Kansas, is a welcoming and diverse city of approximately 100,000 people that is also ranked as one of the top ten college towns in the USA.
Opportunities & Graduate Success
KU students choose from more than 400 degrees and certificates. Students also enjoy research, internship, study abroad, and career-building opportunities. Students have access to more than 650 student organizations to build their network and leadership skills.
KU’s honors program is also ranked #1 in the United States.KU offers a range of scholarships for international freshmen and transfer students. All scholarships are renewable each year and range from $12,000 ($3,000/year) to a full tuition waiver valued at $100,000+ ($25,000+/year).
KU alumni include world leaders, CEOs, inventors, astronauts, Nobel Prize winners, professional athletes and entertainment celebrities. Graduates also go on to work at many successful corporations such as Amazon, Google, ExxonMobil, Garmin, Black & Veatch, Microsoft, and Sprint.
Online Class Options
KU offers hundreds of high-quality online course options that include both academic and English language courses starting at all English proficiency levels. This allows students to progress through language coursework, despite restrictions related to COVID-19. Classes are AAU-accredited and are offered by faculty and support staff trained in teaching online course content. Students can enjoy a variety of course formats, including video lectures, virtual office hours and online class discussions.
KU’s virtual support services allow students to access tutoring and writing resources as well as meet with academic advisors to ensure online success. KU’s expert immigration advisors will provide each student the support needed to transition to on-campus study when the time is right.
English Study In-person or Online
KU's Applied English Center is one of the oldest intensive English programs in the US, with a variety of programs including virtual courses through AEC Online and advanced level courses designed to help high-proficiency students perfect specific English skills. Students have access to a variety of supports, including online advising and conversation groups. AEC professors have more than 700 years of combined experience in international education.
International Student Support & Resources
The University of Kansas strives to provide students with all the resources they need to be successful. Students have resources and advising to support them in academic success, cultural learning, career development, mental health, financial planning, and more. International Support Services (ISS) provides students with direction and support to flourish in their new home at KU.
