Hays ? Fort Hays State University has taken another step toward serving Chinese university students.

In a unique signing ceremony recently, Fort Hays signed a study-abroad agreement with Northwest University of Nationalities in Langzhou, Gansu, at which all 55 of the minorities in China are represented in its student enrollment.

“They have asked Fort Hays to pay attention to the minorities of China,” said Cindy Elliott, dean of strategic partnerships and distance learning at Fort Hays.

Three officials from the Chinese university were on hand for the signing in FHSU’s Custer Hall.

FHSU began partnerships with Chinese universities in 1999 that developed into a cross-border, dual-degree program with three institutions where FHSU sends faculty to China, and the students never leave their home country.