For the fourth time since 2014, the University of St. Thomas-Houston has been awarded a two-year Undergraduate International Studies and Foreign Languages Grant (UISFL) from the U.S. Department of Education to promote international education, modern languages, and international mobility for faculty and students. This recognition represents another accomplishment for the global ambitions of UST’s Greater Things Strategic Vision 2030. The UISFL Grant serves as an accelerator for universities building instructional and project-based capacity to develop area studies and intermediate level language courses that serve the national interest.
Grant Supports New Academic Initiative to be Available to All Undergraduates
The grant's principal investigators are Dr. Hans Stockton, associate vice president for International Relations & Engagement, and Dr. Yao-Yuan Yeh, chair of the Department of International Studies & Modern Languages. With the grant’s support, the department proposes creating a credentialed Global Encounter Certificate Program composed of 12 credit hours of Latin America or East Asia area studies, intermediate Spanish or Mandarin, and a study abroad experience. Undergraduate students from all majors will be eligible to pursue the certificate.
The focal points throughout the grant activities will be the development of cross-cultural and linguistic communication competencies sharpened by attention to diplomacy in a formal and informal sense.
“Diplomacy is an art form.” notes Professor Eric Botts, director of the Center for International Studies and Distinguished Diplomat Program and a retired Foreign Service Officer, “We seek to teach our students how to build relationships to effectuate action on behalf of their country, company, or community.”
Dr. Ulyses Balderas, Associate Professor of International Studies and director of the Latin American Studies Program, will lend his talents to the Global Encounter Certificate Program.
Balderas captures the importance of the proposed new certificate, saying, "Given the diversity of Houston, our economic links to Latin America, and the Hispanic student body at UST, it is important that we teach this area of study and language."
National Standing for UST in Area Studies and Modern Language
UST is one of only 30 national award recipients in the 2023-2024 funding cycle. First awarded an Undergraduate International Studies and Foreign Languages grant in 2014, Stockton has witnessed first-hand the impact of these grants.
“The grant funds have provided our Department of International Studies & Modern Languages with start-up and capacity-building funds for our Taiwan Studies and Mandarin language faculty, programs for academic and community audiences, and scholarship support for nearly 50 students to participate in the UST Taiwan study abroad program from 2014 – 2020,” Stockton explained.
Being recognized by the Department of Education for a fourth award in ten years places UST in the top tier of recipient institutions.
Although the certificate credential will need approval by the university’s Curriculum Committee, area studies, language classes, and scholarships for study abroad will commence in Spring 2025. Participants will also be eligible for the Celt Study Abroad Scholarship. For more information about the certificate program, please contact Dr. Yeh at yehy@stthom.edu. For more information about study abroad opportunities, please contact UST’s Study Abroad Advisor, Ms. Andrea Pineda, at andrea.pineda@stthom.edu.