Howard University Newsroom
WASHINGTON—The Department of African Studies has received a grant of $1.7 million from the U.S. Department of Education to strengthen foreign language instruction and international studies programs.
The four-year grant is offered under the Title VI National Resource Center and Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowship (FLAS) programs. Howard is established as one of ten National Resource Centers for Africa Studies, along with Yale University, the University of Florida-Gainesville, the University of Illinois-Champaign, Boston University, Harvard University, Michigan State University, UNC-Chapel Hill, UW-Madison and the University of Minnesota. The grant also will provide fellowships to students studying critical foreign languages and will support the addition of two new African language course offerings.
“Howard University is a pioneer and leader in the study of Africa and international affairs in the U.S. academy and worldwide, and this grant helps consolidate and expand that legacy,” said Department of African Studies Chair Dr. Mbye Cham. “The grant represents a significant boost to the Africa-related academic, teaching, research and service activities of Howard University and will also contribute to meeting critical national needs. We are thrilled to be able to provide significant funds to support graduate and undergraduate students over the period of the grant.”
The grant will help the universities strengthen the capacity and performance of American education in foreign languages, international and area studies, teacher preparation and outreach to K-16, four-year and community colleges.
At Howard, the grant provides FLAS fellowships to select graduate and undergraduate students across all schools and disciplines to undertake African language training and pursue Africa-related course work and research in their disciplines. FLAS fellowships provide academic year tuition and stipends of $33,000 for five graduate students per year and $25,000 for two undergraduate students per year. Up to five summer fellowships of $7,500 for undergraduate and graduate students also will be available.
Two new African language courses – Zulu and Amharic – have been added in spring 2015 to the existing Swahili, Arabic, Wolof and Yoruba language courses in the Department of World Languages and Cultures.
For more information on the grant, National Resource Center of FLAS fellowship, please contact Dr. Wheeler Winstead at Wheeler.R.Winstead@howard.edu. FLAS fellowship application forms can be downloaded at http://www.gs.howard.edu/gradprograms/african_studies/default.htm
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Founded in 1867, Howard University is a private, research university that is comprised of 13 schools and colleges. Students pursue studies in more than 120 areas leading to undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. Since 1998, the University has produced two Rhodes Scholars, two Truman Scholars, a Marshall Scholar, 30 Fulbright Scholars and 11 Pickering Fellows. For more information on Howard University, call 202-238-2330, or visit the University’s Web site at www.howard.edu.
