A Consortium of Liberal Arts Colleges to Promote Asian Studies
The ASIANetwork Consultancy Program
The ASIANetwork Consultancy Program is a service to ASIANetwork member institutions seeking outside advice on ways to strengthen the study of Asia on their campuses or seeking consultants to conduct program assessment or review. Through this service ASIANetwork can recommend experienced consultants from established Asian Studies programs at liberal arts colleges.
History
The Consultancy Program is the successor to the ASIANetwork Consultancy Program that was originally funded by the Henry Luce Foundation. Over a four-year period beginning in 1994, the Consultancy Program matched paired consultants with twenty-one colleges seeking advice on such matters as how to initiate or strengthen Asian language instruction, enhance library collections of materials related to Asia, develop stronger study-in-Asia programs, locate possible sources of financial and other support, or improve the overall quality of an Asian Studies major. ASIANetwork has continued this program from 1998 to the present; during this period, an additional twenty-six schools have been served.
Opportunities
Consultancy visits or program assessment visits often dramatically affect host colleges by helping them better recognize existing faculty, library and institutional assets; by strengthening the community of Asianists on campus; and by enriching the dialogue between college faculty and administrators. Program reviewers can offer helpful insights on ways to harness institutional assets to further strengthen Asian studies on campus.
Drawing from a pool of over thirty experienced consultants who have served in the program from 1994 to the present, the ASIANetwork Consultancy Program can recommend a list of possible consultants to interested institutions and help with the planning of the campus visit. ASIANetwork charges no fee for this service, although colleges who wish to make use of it should plan on covering the travel expenses of the consultants selected, and they should provide consultants with a reasonable honorarium.
Contact Information
The ASIANetwork Consultancy Program is managed by the immediate past chair of the ASIANetwork Board of Directors. During the 2009-2010 academic year, interested persons should contact: Professor Ronnie Littlejohn, Department of Philosophy, Belmont University, 1900 Belmont Blvd., Nashville, TN 37212; phone (615) 460-6494; e-mail ronnie.littlejohn@belmont.edu.