UH Asian Studies Freeman Undergraduate Initiative
In January 2002 the Freeman Foundation awarded the UHM Asian Studies Program a $1.3 million grant over four years to strengthen and develop the undergraduate Asian Studies program.
The Freeman Foundation Undergraduate Asian Studies Initiative grant is in its second calendar year, the first year of full operation. It has allowed the Program to develop areas and provide incentives for its students and faculty.
Personnel. Ms. Pattie Dunn (pdunn@hawaii.edu) is the coordinator for all aspects related to the grant. A UHM alumna, she has a strong background in Asian performance, cultural presentation, networks to cultural and educational institutions, and fiscal management.
Projects. The four project areas within the grant include: Undergraduate Awards for Study in Asia, Visiting Undergraduate Faculty, Faculty Development/Travel, and Online & Distance Instruction Support.
Undergraduate Awards for Study in Asia. For Year 2003, thirteen awards were designated for undergraduate study in Asia during the summer or during the academic year. Included are seven to Japan (including two to the special Okinawa culture project), two each to the Philippines and Cambodia, and one each to Singapore and Thailand. Because of the SARS problem, awards to China were either postponed or re-directed. Awardees from Year 2002 have given reports to the Asian Studies Undergraduate Student Organization (ASUSO) and have participated in high school recruitment visitations for Asian Studies. (Details for all years
Visiting Undergraduate Faculty. Dr. Michael Lestz from Trinity College (Connecticut) was the first Freeman Visiting Faculty for the academic year 2002-2003. He is a China specialist with a history background. During the Fall 2002 term he gave a public presentation on undergraduate study abroad projects and consulted with the Program. In Spring 2003 term he co-taught the large course on Contemporary Asian Civilizations (ASAN 312) and continued consultation about the undergraduate program. Professor Charnvit Kasetsiri, Asian Studies Program at Thammasat University (Bangkok, Thailand), has been named second Freeman Visiting Professor. He will offer an undergraduate course on tourism and Southeast Asian monuments in Spring 2004.
Faculty Development. Non-competitive development funds for Asian Studies faculty have been used for Asia-related conference and research travel in Asia, Europe and the U.S. mainland. We have been able to extend support to adjunct faculty and lecturer s in Asian Studies as well.
Online and Distance Instruction Support. The grant has resulted in sixteen new courses with on-line components. Support has also been given to colleagues in History and in Music. This Fall 2003 Professor Dru Gladney is teaching a completely online course (www.hawaii.edu/dru/asan627.htm). An instructional CD ROM project on Burma is being developed by Professor Michael Aung-Thwin in collaboration with Kapi'olani Community College colleague Dr. Carl Hefner, completion anticipated in 2004.
Artist in Residence Program
The arts component acknowledges the diversity of "ways of knowing" in Asia. The Project presented five Artists-in-Residence.
- Two Korean contemporary artists HAM Kyung-Ah and KIM Jong-Ku (video/installation art)
- Two Southeast Asia artists U Sein Myint (Myanmar tapestry) and Danogan Kalanduyan (Mindanao/Philippines kulintang dance and music).
- One represents the Middle East, A. J. Racy (music of Lebanon and Egypt).
The southern Philippines and Middle East formed a pair of contrasting Islamic cultures, a timely focus. The residencies included two concert performances and three exhibitions, visits to undergraduate classes, and public symposia on topics related to each art medium.
We invite other institutions interested in using future Freeman Artists-in-Residence to contact us for availability and arrangement. Pending include presentations in classical Indian music (Spring 2004), Japanese kabuki (Spring 2004), and music from Ambon/Indonesia (Fall 2004).