Arcadia University, a leader in international education, has entered into a strategic academic alliance with Global Pathways Institute (GPI) in Mumbai, India. The alliance, which was announced on Dec. 3 during a press conference in Mumbai, will provide a pathway for students in India to begin their college career in India and finish it at Arcadia University, or at other universities in the U.S.

Through the alliance, GPI will deliver a two-year program of Arcadia undergraduate courses with classes beginning in spring 2015. After completion of two years of study, qualified students will have the option to matriculate to the University’s Glenside, Pa., campus to complete their undergraduate education and earn a baccalaureate degree. Students also may use their Arcadia transcript to apply to another university to complete a baccalaureate degree or to study abroad at one of Arcadia’s many centers abroad.

This program will allow Indian students interested in American-style higher education to experience the same coursework but remain at home in India for their first two years of study. GPI students will apply to Arcadia University at GPI in Mumbai and be accepted as Arcadia students, according to the same standards as students applying to the Glenside campus.

“This type of transition program differs from the typical recruitment of Indian students for four years of study in the United States and will have great appeal to many Indian families and students,” said Dr. Nicolette DeVille Christensen, president of Arcadia University. “Additionally, the opportunity for Arcadia University faculty to spend a semester teaching in India has great value and will provide tremendous experiences.”

Dr. Sandra Crenshaw has been named dean of the GPI program. Dr. Crenshaw brings years of experience to the position, both as one of Arcadia’s English Department faculty members and as director of International Academic Programs in the University’s Office of International Affairs. She currently manages Arcadia’s 2+2, 3+1 overseas program agreements and directs Arcadia’s international graduate degrees, which are offered at several locations around the world. Dr. Crenshaw has taught at Jiangsu University in China and has developed and taught in Arcadia’s signature Preview program. Her scholarly interests focus on translation studies and medieval literature, along with academic program assessment in international contexts.

Dr. Crenshaw will manage this program from Mumbai for the inaugural semester, where she will oversee all that Arcadia will provide, including instruction, coursework, advising, and counseling services.

Arcadia University was responsive to the Pennsylvania Department of Economic and Community Development’s initiative calling for higher education institutions in Pennsylvania to partner with the department in recruiting students from India.

“As one of the country’s leaders in international education, this alliance speaks highly to our mission at Arcadia University,” said Dr. Barbara Nodine, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs at Arcadia. “After seeing the enthusiasm from students and families in India that we’ve met with, as well as from faculty members and principals at schools in India, we are even more excited about this alliance.”