Iowa Distance Learning Consortium Gets $320,000 Grant

Students at Iowa's three state universities will have expanded access to courses in Russian and Eastern European languages, culture, and politics through the new Iowa Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies (REEES) Distance Learning Consortium. The consortium is being established through a $320,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The federal Undergraduate International Studies and Foreign Language (UISFL) Program Grant will allow The University of Iowa, Iowa State University (ISU), and the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) to pool resources to offer a combined statewide curriculum in Russian and East European Studies. Based on specific institutional strengths, faculty resources, and student demand, the consortium will initially focus on offering Czech, Polish, and Serbian-Croatian language instruction. Future plans for the consortium include curriculum development for 12 new courses designed specifically for distanced delivery; procurement of additional computer hardware and related equipment; establishment of study abroad opportunities; and the organization of a series of REEES speakers to tour the three host institutions.