SB71-13/14: Critical Languages. This resolution passed 19Y-2N-3A on a roll call vote during the March 19 meeting of the Associated Students of the University of Montana (ASUM)

Ormseth, Eamon

English

University of Montana

University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana Senate Resolutions, 2007-Present ASUM Student Government 3-19-2014 SB71-13/14: Critical Languages Eamon Ormseth Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/asum_resolutions Let us know how access to this document benefits you. Recommended Citation Ormseth, Eamon, "SB71-13/14: Critical Languages" (2014). Senate Resolutions, 2007-Present. 350. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/asum_resolutions/350 This Institutional Document is brought to you for free and open access by the ASUM Student Government at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted for inclusion in Senate Resolutions, 2007-Present by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. For more information, please contact scholarworks@mso.umt.edu. The Associated Students of the University of Montana 1 Resolution Regarding Critical Languages 2 March 19, 2014 3 SB71-13/14 4 Authored by: Eamon Ormseth, ASUM Senator 5 Sponsored by: Betsy Story, ASUM Senator 6  7 Whereas, Arabic, Chinese, and Russian have been designated critical languages by the 8 US Department of State; 9  10 Whereas, such a designation entitles programs and students involved with these 11 languages to unique scholarship and funding opportunities from the federal government 12 and other organizations; 13  14 Whereas, the University of Montana (UM) offers interdisciplinary minors in Arabic 15 Studies and Russian Studies as well as a minor in the Chinese language; 16  17 Whereas, much of this enrollment increase was the result of recruitment efforts at 18 Missoula high schools and the establishment of an Arabic Language Program in Missoula 19 County Public Schools; 20  21 Whereas, the summer high school program Montana Arabic Summer Institute (MASI), 22 has graduated over 100 students in the past, most of whom show interest in taking 23 college-level Arabic courses at UM-Missoula after finishing high school; 24  25 Whereas, both of the aforementioned programs are funded by the US federal government 26 through a National Security Agency grant; 27  28 Whereas, due to the funding shortfall in the spring of 2013, one section of Arabic 101 29 was zeroed out for several weeks until the other could be filled; 30  31 Whereas, due to scheduling conflicts, the zeroed-out section prevented existing UM 32 students as well as potential UM students in high school from registering for Arabic; 33  34 Whereas, the decrease of two sections of 100-level Russian language classes in the fall 35 semester to only one section in the spring is detrimental to students’ academic 36 opportunities and harms long term enrollment in the Russian language program; 37  38 Whereas, Arabic, Russian, and Chinese are small language programs and any factor 39 inhibiting enrollment in introductory sections can threaten the long-term viability of 40 student recruitment for these expanding programs; 41  42 Whereas, the Montana Board of Regents approved an Arabic minor in 2011 with two 43 full-time equivalent (FTE) faculty members;  44  45 Whereas, many critical language alumni from UM have gone on to win prestigious 46 national scholarships such as the Fulbright, Critical Language, and Mitchell Scholarships, 47 enhancing UM’s reputation for academic excellence; 48  49 Therefore, Let It Be Resolved, that the Associated Students of the University of Montana 50 (ASUM) requests that critical language programs be maintained at current staffing and 51 funding levels, as calculated by FTE, to protect the institutional knowledge and expertise 52 they have developed; 53  54 Therefore, Let It Be Further Resolved, that ASUM requests that the current number of 55 sections, advisory duties, and other funding of critical language programs be maintained; 56  57 Therefore, Let It Be Further Resolved, that funding methodology take into account the 58 unique and integral role of these programs; 59  60 Therefore, Let It Be Further Resolved, that a copy of this resolution be sent to Dr. Khaled 61 Huthaily and Professor Samir Bitar, Arabic Department; Professor Alice Harris, Russian 62 Language Professor; Professor Robert Greene, Chair of History and Professor of Russian 63 History; Professor Ona Renner-Fahey, Professor of Russian Language; Professor Zhen 64 Cao, Professor of Chinese Language; Dr. Gilbert Quintero, Chair, Department of 65 Anthropology; Dr. Mehrdad Kia, Director of Central and Southwest Asian Studies 66 Center; Chris Comer, Dean of College of Humanities and Sciences; Perry Brown, 67 Provost; and Royce Engstrom, President of the University of Montana. 68  69 Passed by Committee: March 17, 2014 70  71 Passed by ASUM Senate: March 19, 2014 72 19Y-3N-2A 73  74  75 _______________________   ______________________________ 76 Sean McQuillan,    Mariah Williams, 77 Relations and Affairs Chair   Chair of the Senate 78 

SB71-13/14: Critical Languages

https://scholarworks.umt.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1349&amp;context=asum_resolutions

SB71-13/14: Critical Languages

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

University of Montana