Support CSAS

Supporting the University of Michigan's Center for South Asian Studies

The Value

Among the greatest assets of the University of Michigan are an openness to an interconnected world, an outstanding faculty with broad international expertise and experience, and an extensive network of global partnerships. The Center of South Asian Studies (CSAS), within the Michigan's International Institute (II), builds on these assets to support and organize educational and research programs in South Asia that help to make Michigan a national leader in the field of South Asian studies. To increase the impact of these scholarly activities, CSAS also organizes public programs that place discussion of global issues at the forefront of our and the universities' mission.

To advance our mission, CSAS promotes education, broadly, about South Asia, including study abroad; helps to recruit international faculty and to arrange visits by prominent scholars, artists, public officials, and others from across the globe; and supports collaborative research projects with scholars and institutions throughout the world. Our goals are to ensure that our students graduate with a greater global perspective and understanding; and to support innovative and advanced faculty research on international issues of major importance to the United States and the world.

The Vision

The Center's mission is to promote a broader and deeper understanding of South Asia and its histories, cultures, and peoples. We know how important this is, in a shrinking, globalized world, not only for students but for the university, community and public school audiences we reach out to each year. There are now some 45 faculty at Michigan who devote part or all or their research and teaching to South Asia, from the humanities, social and natural sciences, business, architecture and urban planning, and public policy. Forty-five South Asianists at Michigan is remarkable and presents many opportunities.

The Difference

The assistance of private contributors is required to continue and expand upon this important work. The following are some of the areas in which we are developing initiatives for which financial support will enable us to maintain and enhance Michigan's deserved reputation as a leader in international education.

The Center Executive Committee has identified several goals for our fund raising efforts, and we ask, respectfully, for your financial help in support of the following programs. We indicate costs associated with these programs, but welcome donations in any amount. Your help in identifying friends, colleagues or acquaintances who may wish to support these activities would be very much appreciated.

Development Priorities

The University of Michigan's Center for South Asian Studies (CSAS) is committed to the development and advancement of the scholarly study of the region conventionally known as South Asia, comprising the nations of India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives. CSAS faculty associates are drawn from units across the university including the social sciences, the humanities, and professional schools like law, business, architecture, and public health. This area of study is one whose rich cultural and historical heritage is matched only by its rising importance in economic and political life today. Building on a tradition that began at the University of Michigan with the formation of "The Committee on Southern Asian Studies" in 1958, the field has grown and flourished over the years. But as we approach the half-century anniversary of organized South Asian Studies at Michigan, we recognize that our ability to reach an even higher standard of teaching, research, and programming depends centrally on the generosity of those who share our commitment to the study and dissemination of knowledge about this important region in Michigan and beyond. To that end, we invite your participation in the targeted opportunities described below.

Named Center Endowment

An endowment naming the Center for South Asian Studies assures the future position of the South Asian Studies at the University, with endowment income providing anchoring funds for academic programs, faculty and student research, and staff support. The Center is the hub of a vibrant and wide-ranging community of scholars and students of South Asia at the University. CSAS provides national and international leadership for the training of the next generation of specialists on South Asia; it also organizes a range of public events with South Asian Studies content. Endowing and naming the Center would be the most significant catalyst to ensuring that the Center's programs remain supported at the highest level for the future.

Goal: Named Center Endowment: $5 million

Named Center Directorship

The income from an endowed directorship will create a Center Strategic Fund that significantly enhances the Center's capacity to marshal University resources. This will allow the Director to initiate special and consequential projects on South Asia, including academic conferences, arts performances and scholarly and community programming. It also will allow for support to graduate student and faculty research at key moments when funds are needed for research travel or training. Endowing the directorship would provide Center-sponsored programs the flexibility to address on-going developments in this vibrant and quickly changing region of the world.

Goal: Endowed Named Center Directorship: $2 million, or
$100,000 annual donation, naming the Directorship with a multi-year commitment

Center Discretionary Fund

Unrestricted gifts to this fund permit the Center to support on-going programming: scholarly lectures, film series, student conferences, outreach to schools and other events and programs that further public knowledge and awareness of South Asia. Your gift of any amount increases the Center's ability to respond to new initiatives and needs as they emerge. Any unexpended funds at the end of the year will be transferred to the Named Center Directorship Strategic Fund to provide a base for long term programming support.

Goal: $15,000 for the 2008-2009 academic year

Graduate Student Support

The Center for South Asian Studies is a hub for the scholarly pursuit of inquiry into the region. We continue to attract the very best young students interested in the region, and finding ways to adequately support their education is more critical now than ever before as public institutions continue to reserve their funds. Opportunities exist to support full MA and Ph.D. students:

• Named Scholarships for CSAS MA and departmental Ph.D. students allowing us to offer reliable support for students in a broad range of country and disciplinary fields, and to attract the very best students to the University of Michigan.
  
  Goal: up to five $20,000 named scholarships per year.
  Endowed Named Scholarships: $400,000 each
  
  
• An endowed fund for graduate student research supports field study and internships in South Asia and participation in professional conferences.
  Goal: Multiple $3,000 - $5,000 scholarships
  Endowed Named Fund: $200,000

The Center for South Asian Studies also is also seeking support in endowing languages at the Department of Asian Languages & Cultures at the University of Michigan. If you are interested in exploring these possibilities please contact Will Glover or Sreyashi Dey directly. Current on-going projects through the Center are for Tamil and Punjabi language endowments.

Tamil Language Endowment

The Tamil Language endowment, administered through the Center, provides on-going support for the teaching of Tamil in the Department of Asian Languages & Cultures (ALC). In the past this fund has also supported the research and development of language materials both for teaching and learning Tamil.Your gift of any level increases the principal in the fund. A lead gift of $100,000 or more moves the endowment towards its larger goal of $1million, which would provide full funding for a permanent Tamil Language instructor position within ALC.

Current Balance of the Endowment: $32,500 (as of November 2008)
Goals: Naming Gift of $500,000; Lead Gift of $100,000
2008-2009 Goal: Gifts of any size helping the endowment reach $50,000 in principal

Sikh Studies Endowment

The Sikh Studies endowment, administered through the Center, provides on-going support for the teaching of Sikh area studies and the Punjabi language in the Department of Asian Languages & Cultures (ALC). In the past this fund has also supported the research and development of language materials both for teaching and learning Punjabi.Your gift of any level increases the principal in the fund. A lead gift of $100,000 or more moves the endowment towards its larger goal of $1million, which would provide full funding for a permanent Punjabi Language instructor position within ALC, complementing the existing Tara Singh and Balwant Kaur Chattha and Gurbaksh Singh and Kirpal Kaur Brar Sikh Studies Chair.

How to Make a Gift

By credit card:

The most convenient way to give is on-line via Giving to CSAS, but you may also make a toll-free call to the Office of Gift Administration help-line at 1-888-518-7888 during business hours--bearing in mind that Ann Arbor is in the Eastern Time Zone--or send an e-mail to Gift Administration.

At Giving to CSAS you'll be presented with two pre-defined options, a CSAS Discretionary Fund for general support of the Center, and a Graduate Student Support fund to provide scholarships and fellowships to CSAS-affiliated graduate students.  If you wish to have your gift directed to one of the other areas of need identified in the paragraphs above, just enter your preference in the Other Options box.  If we have any questions about your intent one of our CSAS staff members will give you a call.

By check:

Please make your check payable to "The University of Michigan" and include your printed name, address, daytime phone number, and let us know which project you’d like to support.  Then just mail your gift to:

Center for South Asian Studies
University of Michigan
1080 S. University, Suite 3603 SSWB
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1106

By cash/wire transfer:

For information on how to make a cash transfer by wire, call the toll-free Office of Gift Administration help-line at 1-888-518-7888 during U.S. Eastern Time business hours, or send an e-mail to Gift Administration.  Don't forget to tell them where you would like your gift to be directed.

Tax Benefits

Your gift may provide you with federal and state income tax benefits:

• If you itemize deductions on your federal income tax return, you may be able to deduct your contribution to CSAS from your adjusted gross income.
  
  
• Your state may also allow a credit or deduction. For example, Michigan residents may take a credit against state tax of fifty cents for each dollar of their gift to the University, with a maximum tax credit of $100 for taxpayers filing singly, or $200 on a joint return.  This tax credit could mean that your family's $200 gift to CSAS will only cost you $100!