Canadian Studies Consortium--Vision and History
A VISION OF THE FUTURE OF CANADIAN STUDIES IN THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION
A Statement Issued by the System Canadian Studies Collaborative Committee Harrisburg, PA, February 10, 1995
Our vision is based on a number of beliefs. First of all, we believe in the necessity of preparing Pennsylvanians for an increasingly globalized Twenty-first Century. We believe in the increased internationalizing of what we teach, how we teach, and where we teach. We believe in the efficacy of linkages between disciplines and universities--both within the System and across state and national borders. We believe the study of Canada to be a critical element in the education of the next generation of leaders, providing a significant, practical, compelling, and accessible avenue for augmenting the international dimension of the curriculum, the faculty, and the students--and thus for understanding global interdependence.
Therefore our vision is of System-wide recognition of the importance of the study of Canada. This recognition should manifest itself in a variety of ways throughout the System: in the increased number and kind of Canadian content courses; in the integration of Canadian content in existing courses where a Canadian perspective is edifying; in campus and System support for faculty and students engaging in professional development and research projects in Canadian subjects, as well as support for other Canadian studies activities and organizations.
Our vision also includes effective System-wide implementation of the Canadian Studies Collaborative designated by the Chancellor's office in 1994. It is the long-range goal of the Collaborative to create within the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education a major Center for the Study of Canada which will have national and international recognition. One aspect of this goal, the Canadian Studies Resource Center, has been operational at Mansfield University since September 1994.
Functioning in part as a "clearing house" for Canadian economic and trade information, the Canadian Studies Resource Center will become a link between Canada and Pennsylvania. The Center will conduct seminars, workshops, and conferences for business and education; provide in-service programs for public schools; maintain a bureau of speakers, exhibits, and performance programs for the System; and facilitate student internships and faculty and student exchanges with Canadian universities. The Center will also sponsor or promote Canada-based projects across the disciplines--for example, archaeological research in the Yukon, geological studies in Newfoundland, cultural field trips to Quebec, traveling intrasystem art exhibits and theatrical performances, and comparative economics, government, or health care studies.
The vision of a comprehensive System-wide Canadian Studies initiative requires the support of various stakeholders, not the least of which are students, parents, and faculty. But there is also government and private enterprise. We therefore plan to work in partnership with state government and business leaders to match the educational strengths of the System to the economic needs of the state, thus expanding trade between Canada and Pennsylvania. With the continued encouragement of the Chancellor's Office and the faculty and chief academic officers of System universities, we expect Mansfield to continue to take the lead in developing Canadian Studies for the System.
Finally, we hope to establish an operating base in Canada for the convenience of faculty, students, and businesses needing short-term accommodations for academic and economic activities: a "Pennsylvania House."
(Revised and edited 2/19/95)
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A BRIEF HISTORY OF STATE SYSTEM COLLABORATIVE IN CANADIAN STUDIES AND THE PENNSYLVANIA CONSORTIUM
A Brief History Issued by theCanadian Studies Consortium--Mansfield, PA, February, 2000
DEFINITION OF COLLABORATIVE. On October 15, 1992, the Board of Governors adopted Policy 1992-01, "Designation of State System Collaboratives," for the purpose of "[facilitating] collaboration among universities and, thus, to increase the benefits of State System linkage," as called for in the Priorities document. According to the Collaborative policy document, "A State System Collaborative is an entity hosted and housed by one or more State System universities, but designed to involve faculty and staff from sister universities in planning and advisory capacities and to utilize faculty and staff, and, in some instances, student resources from sister universities in fulfilling its mission."
DESIGNATION OF CANADIAN STUDIES COLLABORATIVE. In February 1994 Mansfield University convened the first meeting of the "Intra-System Ad Hoc Committee on Canadian Studies" at the State System headquarters in Harrisburg. Representatives of seven system universities and the Academic Relations Officer from the Canadian Consulate presented to Dr. Burger the rationale and need for, and the significance and appropriateness of, a System Collaborative in Canadian Studies.
Subsequently, on April 25, 1994, Dr. Mary Burger, on behalf of the Chief Academic Officers, requested that "MANSFIELD UNIVERSITY . . . SERVE AS THE 'LEAD CAMPUS' . . . FOR THE SYSTEM CONSORTIUM OR COLLABORATIVE IN CANADIAN STUDIES." A key purpose in creating a System Collaborative in Canadian Studies was to improve opportunities for external funding for multi-campus Canadian Studies projects while, at the same time, encouraging each campus to develop its own individual and unit projects. To this end, Dr. Burger called for "a system-wide committee to coordinate and promote Canadian studies projects, particularly those involving two or more system institutions."
On February 21, 1997, the Canadian Studies Collaborative voted unanimously to change its name to the Canadian Studies Consortium. (CSC).
In February 1998 and again in February 1999, the Consortium voted to extend membership to any school or individual in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania who had an interest in and a commitment to the development of Canadian Studies in the Commonwealth. In February 2000, faculty from Lehigh University and Moravian College joined the Consortium.
Consortium members come from Moravian College, and Mansfield, Lock Haven, Clarion, Kutztown, Millersville, Shippensburg, Edinboro, Indiana, West Chester, California, East Stroudsburg and Lehigh universities. Non-affiliated members come from the community of Wellsboro. Membership is increasing. As of February 2000, the Consortium has 52 affiliated and non-affiliated members.
MANSFIELD'S ROLE IN THE STATE SYSTEM'S CANADIAN STUDIES CONSORTIUM
CANADIAN STUDIES CONSORTIUM COMMITTEE.
The Director of Canadian Studies at Mansfield has the overarching responsibility of identifying Commonwealth faculty with research or teaching interests in Canadian or bi-national subjects. These faculty are then invited to serve on the Canadian Studies Consortium Committee. The committee, charged with facilitating collaboration among sister universities, meets in order to share information and to develop and promote individual and intrastate projects in Canadian Studies.
CONSORTIUM CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF CANADA
In accepting the responsibility of leading the Canadian Studies Consortium, Mansfield University also affirms the appropriateness of developing at Mansfield a Center for the Study of Canada. Successful courses and programs conducted in Canada, including two SSHE Summer Honors Programs, have established Mansfield's preeminence in Canadian Studies. More recently, since April 1994, Mansfield has received significant grant support: from the Canadian Embassy, to enhance the Mansfield library's Canadian collection and to help a Mansfield faculty member develop a Canadian literature course; and from the State System, to establish a Canadian Studies Resource Center at Mansfield, to conduct a Canadian Studies Workshop-Conference at Mansfield, and to conduct a Canadian Studies Summer Seminar in Canada. Mansfield now regularly offers Canadian content courses to support a Minor in Canadian Studies.
Additionally, the Canadian Studies Resource Center at Mansfield engages in outreach activities. For example, it has hosted a series of town meetings for merchants in the Mansfield area and has provided a Canadian perspective in economic and tourism development organizations. It is also represented on the Northern Tier Gateway Committee, responsible for developing the Heinz Memorial Welcome Center on Route 15. Services to schools is another projected goal.
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