University Times

Four programs in Pitt's University Center for International Studies (UCIS) have been redesignated as National Resource Centers (NRC) by the U.S. Department of Education.

The programs, which have held the NRC designation for 25 years, include the Asian Studies Program, the Center for Latin American Studies, the Center for Russian and East European Studies, and the Center for West European Studies.

The NRC designation carries with it an award of more than $3 million.

"This remarkable achievement confirms Pitt's standing as a national leader in international education and will create even more opportunities for internationally-minded students and faculty," UCIS director Burkart Holzner said. "Given the intensely competitive national environment, this is a tremendous success for Pitt." According to Holzner, more centers than ever before across the nation competed for smaller numbers of grants this year.

The NRC program provides grants to colleges and universities to strengthen and maintain U.S. capacity in foreign languages and international studies.

Included in the grants are foreign language and areas studies fellowships to assist graduate students in foreign language and other international or area studies.