A group of kinesiology experts from Big Ten universities, including University professor Maureen Weiss , leave for China Thursday on a two-week expedition to meet with kinesiology administrators in five Chinese cities. The delegation consists of nine individuals from member institutions of the Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC) and two individuals from other institutions . Kinesiology administration and faculty from Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Xian and Chengdu have invited the panel to meet with them. Weiss said the ultimate goal of the trip is to talk about shared programs and âÄúhow we can collaborate on cross-cultural research.âÄù Specific goals for the University, Weiss said, include finding new study abroad opportunities for the kinesiology department, as well as to strengthen kinesiology ties between the University and major Chinese institutions. âÄúWe’re going to be talking about what programs we have within our departments,âÄù Weiss said. Administrators from both sides âÄúmay want to expand their program offerings,âÄù she said. Weiss was chosen to represent her field by School of Kinesiology Director Mary Jo Kane after Kane decided she couldnâÄôt go on the trip. Kane said she chose Weiss to be her replacement because of her expertise and reputation as an international scholar. âÄúItâÄôs terribly important to send one of our best and brightest,âÄù Kane said, âÄúand thatâÄôs Dr. Weiss.âÄù University of Wisconsin professor Li Li Ji , originally from China, has been organizing the trip, two years in the making. âÄúWe decided two years ago to coordinate our collaborations and relations with China,âÄù he said. He said the delegation will give lectures during the trip as well as participate in a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Tianjin University of Sport. Although most of the 11 CIC member institutions are represented in the delegation âÄî Weiss said two of them arenâÄôt able to go âÄî the CIC itself is not involved with the organization or logistics of the trip. CIC Associate Director for Academic and International Programs Yolanda Zepeda said she was not aware that the trip even existed, but that itâÄôs not all that uncommon for member institutions to organize events on their own. âÄúIf they don’t need us, they go off and do all the things that they’re interested in,âÄù Zepeda said. âÄúWe think that that’s really exciting.âÄù