To: Faculty Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies

From: East Asian Studies Program Committee

Date: February 12, 2006

Re: Response to Permanent Status Program Review Report

The report of the Program Review Committee, consisting of Dr. Charles Pavitt and Dr. Peter Weil, is in general agreement with the East Asian Studies’ (EAS) view of itself. The review is positive regarding the Program’s goals and implementation of those goals. It also commends EAS on its contribution to the overall academic mission of the University of Delaware. The EAS Program Committee further agrees with the review’s conclusion that the program is poised to grow substantially, but that such growth will require the dedication of resources for scholarships, faculty, and support staff.

The review identifies three areas of weakness. The first concerns the need to hire more faculty to teach a broader range of courses. Keeping in mind that EAS does not hire faculty, it has been very successful at encouraging the hiring of faculty by the various academic departments. In consequence, EAS is already offering considerable breadth and depth. Despite a concentration in East and Northeast Asia, Southeast and Central Asia also figure prominently in the Program’s offerings. The review suggests that Indonesia, the largest Muslim nation in the world, merits coverage and is currently left out. This is not the case, as two Political Science courses devote significant and substantive sections to this country. Come next September, Indonesia, as well as other Southeast Asian nations, will gain additional attention with the new tenure-track hire in Anthropology. Still, more faculty resource in this area would greatly enhance the curriculum. The Program Committee would also wish to underscore that both domestic and international migration issues are covered in EAS courses, which directly address cultural and ethnic diversity issues in the United States. Korea is the one major country that the current EAS curriculum does not cover in a significant manner. All in all, EAS offers a rich and substantive area studies major for University of Delaware students.

The second area of weakness relates to financial support for experiential learning, particularly training in East Asia. The third area of weakness concerns the lack of administrative staff support. The EAS Program Committee would like to add a fourth, namely, the absence of space, which, practical purposes aside, would give the Program added identity and presence on campus.

The EAS Program Committee views these areas of weakness as programmatic needs, especially if it is to elevate itself to the next level of excellence. It therefore looks forward to working with the College and University Administration in developing means and resources to address them. Ensuring continuity in teaching and administration with limited resources has been a characteristic of the Program since its inception. Additional support from the University that would institutionalize administrative support and guarantee continuity in faculty lines would be most welcome.

In general the EAS Program Committee finds the review to be a ringing endorsement of the program and its accomplishments over the last six-and-a-half years (since September 1998). The U.S. Department of Education, in awarding the Title VI Grant, notes the enthusiasm of the EAS faculty, its quality, and its leadership. We believe that the review and all available evidence unequivocally support the granting of permanent status to the East Asian Studies Program Major.