A crowd gathered in the parlor of Rogers Hall Thursday afternoon to watch as an agreement was signed between Shenqi Ethnic Medicine College and the University of North Alabama that officially establishes the UNA U.S.-China International Institute.

The agreement was signed by UNA’s president William Cale and Chairman Zhang Zhiting, owner of the Shenqi company, and formalizes the relationship between the two groups as they move forward in a joint venture to establish a master’s program for the study of integrative health at UNA.

“Integrative Health is now an approved master’s program by the Alabama Commission on Higher Education,” said Cale. “We will prepare an international audience of aspiring health professionals to provide services to others that will promote healthy living and quality of life.”

Chairman Zhang also presented a check of $150,000 on behalf of his company to UNA to fund the hiring of a faculty position in integrative health.

“It is obvious to us all that health is an increasingly important topic,” Cale said. “Our shared dream is that graduates from this program will become global agents for health reform, going out into schools and universities, hospitals and clinics, senior center, social organizations and elsewhere to serve others.”

Florence Mayor Mickey Haddock was also present to sign papers completing the sale of the Florence Country Club property to the Shenqi Company, which will in turn begin developing the land and constructing buildings for the program.

“The city of Florence has been and remains a full partner in this extraordinary endeavor,” Cale said. “While my history in this community is somewhat short, I cannot imagine that relationships between the city and the university have ever been stronger.”

Stick with The Flor-Ala as this story develops.