$500,000 Challenge for Support of Cross Cultural Studies
Carleton received a $500,000 challenge grant from National Endowment for the Humanities. Funds will support new cross cultural studies program.
The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has awarded Carleton College a $500,000 challenge grant to create endowments for new teaching positions in Chinese and Japanese and to support humanities programming in the College’s new cross cultural studies program. Carleton is one of only five colleges to receive an NEH challenge grant this year. To receive the funds, Carleton must raise $2 million to support these endeavors by July 2003.
Carleton launched a program in cross cultural studies this fall to encourage students, both domestic and international, to acquire in-depth understanding of a culture other than their own, to learn methods of comparative cultural study, and to integrate academic and experiential learning. The first focus of the program is “Asia in Comparative Perspective,” which builds on the strength of Asian studies at Carleton. Eventually, the College will add components that focus on other regions of the world.
The combined funds from the NEH and Carleton total $2.5 million in support of this fledgling cross cultural studies program. Income from a $2 million endowment will provide financial support for two new, permanent, tenure-track teaching positions enabling Carleton to offer four years of study and majors in Japanese and Chinese. These new faculty members will join four existing colleagues in Asian languages and literatures.
Income from a $500,000 endowment will support humanities programming within cross cultural studies, including faculty development activities and team-teaching opportunities.
In a letter to Dean of the College Elizabeth McKinsey, William R. Ferris, chairman of the NEH, noted that his organization found Carleton’s cross cultural studies program offered a “refreshing look at language study and that it went beyond typical programs in international studies.” He also stated that the NEH challenge grant “will enable the program to have a far-reaching impact across the nation, making it a timely exemplar for other institutions.”