The Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies is one of five NRCs housed in the International Institute. These prestigious designations, earned in national peer-reviewed competitions, are awarded by the U.S. Department of Education Title VI program. This program strives to develop the nation’s capacities in international studies, area studies, foreign languages, and international business education.
U.S. Department of Education Title VI Program
Title VI refers to the section of the National Defense Education Act of 1958 that established a set of academic and fellowship programs. These programs were inaugurated in response to the launch of Sputnik by the Soviet Union in 1957 and the U.S. government’s recognition that greater capacity in foreign languages and area studies was needed.
Subsequently incorporated into the Higher Education Act and administered by the U.S. Department of Education, Title VI programs have been expanded over the past 50 years to address not only national security needs but also concerns related to global competitiveness and a more internationally competent citizenry.
International Institute units currently have grants from the following Title VI programs:
Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowships
The five NRC-designated centers also received grants for Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships. These centers administer annual competitions to award undergraduate and graduate-level fellowships to support the study of foreign languages.
Centers Awarded Grants
- East Asia National Resource Center (comprising Lieberthal-Rogel Center for Chinese Studies and Center for Japanese Studies and the Nam Center for Korean Studies)
- Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies
- Center for Middle Eastern and North African Studies
- Center for Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies
- Center for South Asian Studies
- Center for Southeast Asian Studies
- Center for International Business Education
