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Area Studies Review Final Documents

The Office of International Studies and Programs (ISP) recently completed a review of area studies at Michigan State University (MSU). The Area Studies Review (ASR) was conducted under the guidance of a university-wide ASR Steering Committee chaired by Karen Klomparens—assistant provost and dean of the graduate school—and was committed to a comprehensive, frank, inclusive, and transparent process intended to inform effective and realistic policies and strategies. The review and visioning process began in October 2003 with a retreat of ISP centers, institutes, and offices. It was primarily prospective—to strengthen area studies and their relevance to the university's missions, particularly the further internationalization of the campus and the enhancement of MSU's contributions to world area expertise and global problem-solving. This was not a review of the area studies centers per se, although their role and contributions are included in the review.

ASR research included:

  • Gathering and comparing public data regarding U.S. Department of Education-funded Title VI national resource centers (NRC) at universities across the U.S. that are among the most internationally-engaged in their teaching, research, and outreach missions
  • Title VI peer reviewers' feedback from the 2000 and 2003 NRC competitions
  • Self-assessment documents from each MSU area studies center that addressed a variety of issues, including the strengths and weaknesses of area and language studies at MSU
  • Ten faculty/staff and six undergraduate/graduate student focus groups, convened by an experienced facilitator, to discuss the broadly defined role of area studies in the instructional, research, and outreach missions of a 21st century university
  • Visits by three nationally-recognized experts who keynoted the Enhancing Area and Language Studies seminar series, which included lectures and small group meetings
  • A two-day workshop with area and international studies directors and faculty that identified key issues, critical choices, and potential future directions
  • A half-day session with deans and chairs at which outcomes from focus groups, research findings, and working sessions were shared and further input, suggestions, and criticisms were provided for a report to the Provost.

Certain research and other materials collected for the ASR included proprietary data are confidential and cannot be shared or disseminated.

The Public ASR documents:

Michigan State University Area Studies Review Executive Summary and Action Proposals
This report summarizes the ASR process and articulates goals concerning area, international, and global studies in undergraduate and graduate education, foreign language instruction, faculty hiring and career development, international research, entrepreneurial international programming, support for area studies centers, purposeful attention to international programming in university planning and budgeting, and development of strategic international partnerships. These goals provide a framework for systematically and effectively enhancing MSU's international reputation and the impact of its scholarly, creative, and academic endeavors, at home and abroad.
Report on the Area Studies Review Faculty Focus Groups
This document provides a summary of 10 focus groups conducted with more than 70 faculty and staff during April 2004.
Area Studies Review Student Focus Group Summaries
This document summarizes data gathered from 6 focus groups, three each with undergraduate and graduate students involved in study or specializations in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, or Latin America.
Summary of Presentations by External Experts
The presentations of three external experts in area studies and language acquisition-Sheila Biddle of New York City, Davydd Greenwood of Cornell University, and Elaine Tarone of the University of Minnesota-are summarized in this document. The speakers visited the MSU campus in February through April of 2005 in conjunction with the "Enhancing Area and Language Studies" Seminar Series.
Area Studies Review Steering Committee
This is a list of faculty who served on the Steering Committee for the Area Studies Review.
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