Journal of Asian American
Studies
Newsletters
Program Starter Kit
PART 1 - INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this Starter's Packet is to assist in the
institutionalization of Asian American Studies on college
and university campuses. Recognizing that students are
invariably the leaders of such initiatives, the East of
California Network has compiled this packet of information
to respond to student requests, especially from campuses
with no faculty or other resources in Asian American
Studies.
There are many different ways to achieve the goal of Asian
American Studies. The materials herein are inclusive of
some of the attempts that this committee thinks are most
thought provoking and useful. The Network provides this
information with the belief that the dissemination of
information can provide greater insight for all students,
faculty, staff and administrators interested in Asian
American Studies. In addition, the more knowledgeable
students are of the field the more effective their efforts
will be both in interaction with administrators and in
establishing Asian American Studies.
This packet is related to another project of the Network,
the Resource Program. This program will provide additional
resources (beyond this packet) to students seeking
institutionalization of Asian American Studies. Through the
help of students, staff, faculty, and former student
organizers in various regional locations, the Network will
provide information on the field of Asian American Studies,
as well as consultations, advice and/or training for
students, which cover such topics as current debates within
the field, the relationship between Asian American Studies,
Ethnic Studies and American Studies, how to design an
effective campaign, and how to follow up on a campaign
(i.e. faculty searches). In order to receive these
resources, students are asked to completely fill out the
form at the back of this packet and return it to the
Network chair. This will provide the Network the ability to
assess how it can best assist students.
For more information on this program or the packet, please
contact: either the Secretariat or the Network
THE EAST OF CALIFORNIA NETWORK
The East of California Network is a caucus within the
Association for Asian American Studies (AAAS) formed to
promote the regional interests of the Association's Midwest
and East Coast regions. Members of the Network,
accordingly, should be members of the AAAS. The Network
meets twice annually, in the fall at a member campus and in
the spring at the annual meeting of the AAAS.
The goals of the Network are:
(1) to institutionalize Asian American Studies;
(2) to develop regional-specific research and publications;
and
(3) to provide mutual support to individuals and programs.
The Network is led by its Coordinating Committee which
consists of nine members, including all the elected East of
California representatives of the AAAS, the Network's
secretariat, the immediate past chair of the Network's fall
conference, the current chair of the Network's fall
conference, and at-large members. The at-large members will
be elected during the fall meeting of the Network, and
those positions are intended to ensure that all of the
Network's regional and graduate and undergraduate student
constituencies are represented on the committee. Members of
the Coordinating Committee will serve a one-year term,
beginning and ending on the last day of the fall Network
conference.
The responsibilities of the Coordinating Committee are:
(1) to direct the activities and forward the purposes of
the Network;
(2) to select the fall conference site, and constitute the
planning committee for the conference;
(3) to coordinate symposia and workshops held at member
campuses;
(4) to establish and oversee projects, activities, and
deadlines;
(5) to set the agenda for the fall and spring meetings of
the Network, and to chair those meetings; and
(6) to conduct the elections for the at-large members of
the Coordinating Committee at the fall meeting.
ASSOCIATION FOR ASIAN AMERICAN STUDIES
Purposes:
The Association for Asian American Studies was formed in
1979 for the purposes of: (1) advancing the highest
professional standards of excellence in teaching and
research in the field of Asian American Studies; (2)
promoting better understanding and closer ties between
among various sub-components within Asian American Studies:
Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Filipino, Hawai'ian, Southeast
Asian, South Asian, Pacific Islander, and other groups; (3)
sponsoring professional activities including conferences
and symposia, special projects and events; (4) facilitating
increased communication and scholarly exchange among
teachers, researchers, and students in the field of Asian
American Studies; (5) advocating and representing the
interests and welfare of Asian Americana Studies and Asian
Americans; and (6) educating American society about the
history and aspirations of Asian American ethnic
minorities.
Activities:
The Association has sponsored national conferences since
1980. These have been held at University of Washington;
University of California, Los Angeles; San Francisco State
University; Washington State University; Hunter College,
CUNY; University of California Santa Barbara; University of
Hawaii, Manoa; San Jose State University; Cornell
University; and University of Michigan. The Association
publishes a quarterly Newsletter containing Association
news, the latest research and publications in the field,
job announcements, reviews and opinions. The Association
has published a thematic book based upon the proceedings of
the previous year's conference and recently announced the
1998 release of its Journal of Asian American Studies
(Johns Hopkins University Press). The Association has been
active in advocacy and support roles, especially on
university and college campuses.
Membership:
The Association is open to any individual or organization
with an interest in Asian American Studies. The majority of
membership is composed of researchers, teachers and
students within post-secondary education, representing
anthropology, criminology, economics, education, ethnic
studies, history, journalism, law, library science,
literature, political science, psychology, social work, and
sociology. Membership, while heavily concentrated in
academia, also includes individuals in government and
professionals serving the needs of the ethnic community, as
well as members of the community. Benefits of membership
include receipt of the quarterly Newsletter, three issues
of the Journal of Asian American Studies (JAAS), and
reduced rates at national and regional conferences. For
membership, contact The Johns Hopkins University Press,
Journals Publishing Division, P.O. Box 19966, Baltimore, MD
21211-0966. Telephone: (800) 548-1784, FAX (410) 516-6968).
(For a membership application, please view the
Association's cover page form section.)
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