The first public University founded after Taiwan’s economic boom in the 1980′s, National Chung Cheng University broke ground after the Executive Yuan passed the plan to build the university in 1986 in honor of the late president CHIANG Kai-Shek and to develop higher education in the Yun-lin, Chia-yi, and Tainan areas. It was officially founded on July 1, 1989 with Dr. LIN Ching-Jiang being the first president of the University. During the early stage of the University, five colleges were set up: the College of Humanities, the College of Sciences, the College of Social Sciences, the College of Engineering, and the College of Management. Dr. CHENG Kuo-Shung, who served a term of three years from October 21, 1996 to October 21, 1999, was the 2nd University President in CCU history. During his tenure, the College of Law and the College of Education were founded in 1998 and 1999, respectively. Altogether, the University currently consists of seven Colleges offering 29 Undergraduate Programs, 44 Master Programs, 29 Ph.D. Programs, 17 in-service Graduate Programs. The University has more than 960 faculty/staff members, and approximately 12,000 students. As a research-oriented University, CCU aims to provide students with the advanced skills and profound knowledge in the fields of humanities, sciences, technology, law, and management. With the education of liberal arts and sciences, CCU expects students learn to effectively deal with the complexity of challenges of the 21st century. Building on the foundation of the past 20 years, the current President, Dr. Fong, Zhang Hua, is leading the University to continue to strive for academic excellence, internationalization, and active interaction with the global community. Campus Environment The campus is located in the central part of Chia-yi County, 15 kilometers from the City of Chia-yi, which is approximately 250 kilometers south of Taipei. The campus occupies an open landscape of 132 hectares on a hill, with more than 200,000 trees of various species. On a campus tour, one may be amazed by the elegant buildings of different architectural styles, surrounded by tall trees, open green spaces, and winding roads flanked with flowering trees and bushes blooming in different seasons. The campus itself is a beautiful park with serenity and openness, and is literally a breath of fresh air in comparison to Taiwan’s more urban campuses. Viewed from the plains below, the University resembles a splendid palace on a hill. Despite the image of university as seemingly the excluded ivory tower, the university is in fact friendly open to all and serves the community in many ways. The Administration Building in the center of campus is sinuous, Chinese style step-pyramid, acting as a grounding focal point for the activity happening around it. In front of it is a wide brick road leading to the main gate of the campus. The road is blocked to motorized traffic for walking and bicycling, a main route for students entering and leaving the campus. On the opposite side one finds another brick walkway bordered by trees and green spaces. This walkway leads to the impressive brick piazza situated in front of the campus’s main Auditorium, and opens to a circular water feature which is a common landmark and meeting place. Facing the Auditorium is the Library and Information Building, an impressive, towering landmark of the University. It has more than 891,610 books, 7,315 periodicals and more than 1,212,927 microfilms, microfiches and CD-ROMs (2010.01.17 updated). Its Computer Center supports academic research, computer-assisted instruction, online registration services, video-conferences, long-distance learning, and other multimedia services. The library’s Audio-Visual Center boasts the most updated, high-tech AV equipment. In the Main Library, the sun-roofed inner court adds natural light to the reading areas. It is a great pleasure to study and research in this spacious and tranquil environment. The Gymnasium is one of the most splendid and expensive constructions in southern Taiwan. It has two Olympic-sized swimming pools (one indoors and one outdoors), a roller-skating rink, bowling alleys, and indoor courts for basketball, volleyball, and badminton. In addition, it has rooms for Judo, weight-lifting and circuit training, indoor rock climbing walls, an outdoor Olympic track and field stadium, and of course, ping-pong facilities. Last but not least, the sprawling campus even has a golf course with 20 fairways. The Student Activity Center is situated by Tranquility Lake. The structure itself is very unique with different elevations in the interior. From these floors one can have a gorgeous view of the beautifully arched bridge crossing the Lake. The ground floor is spacious and bordered on one side by the Lake, on another by one of the various cafeterias in the center, and on another by a wide staircase. This area is often the stage for various student group performances and activities. The Lake is a favorite spot for visitors and members of the University community. On a sunny day one will find families and children strolling along its stone walkways. Soon-to-be-married couples, in full wedding attire, are often seen posing for their wedding portraits. Swans, ducks, quail, turtles, and fish of various species form their own community on the lake. They make this beautiful part of the campus an attractive family retreat for neighboring towns and counties, as well as a place for romantic walks on the path around the lake. The buildings for the seven Colleges are interspersed in a park-like campus, each with its unique architectural style symbolic of its purpose and individuality. They all house various resting areas, student-run cafes and small courtyards.