2007-2008 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
    Oct 09, 2024  
2007-2008 Undergraduate Catalog [Archived Catalog]

Interdisciplinary Centers



Center for Advancement of Technology in Education (CATE)

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Old Main, Room 122
(607) 753-5784
E-mail:
cate@cortland.edu
www.cortland.edu/cate/

Faculty

Scott Anderson (Director)

Mission of the Center

The mission of the Center for Advancement of Technology in Education (CATE) is to promote and facilitate the integration of technology into the curriculum and to educate faculty and students in the theory and practice of current and emerging instructional technologies.

Functions of the Center

  • To serve as a faculty advocate and spokesperson for campus-wide information and technology initiatives.
  • To recommend priorities to the College with respect to technology and the College mission.
  • To assess information and technology needs of academic departments and make recommendations.
  • To promote discussion among faculty and professional staff regarding technology needs.
  • To promote discussion among faculty regarding standards for information and computer literacy.
  • To promote technology-related internships for SUNY Cortland undergraduates.
  • To participate in planning campus-wide information and technology professional development opportunities.

Career Information

SUNY Cortland offers an interdisciplinary minor in computer applications for students to develop skills and knowledge useful in professional development and the workplace. The minor is designed to complement any academic major and focuses on the development of technology applications within various academic disciplines. Students completing the minor will have been exposed to a variety of computers and software applications as tools in a variety of "real world" environments and will have had experiences in solving problems in their respective disciplines.

Center for Aging (ICA)

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Old Main, Room 122
(607) 753-5784

Faculty

Nancy J. Aumann (Contact)

Mission of the Center

The Center for Aging has a multidisciplinary focus and seeks to be a leader in and supporter of creative teaching and the development of academically sound and theoretically strong gerontology and human services curricula; to be an innovator in responding to substantive directions of change in the gerontological and human services fields in research and research-related activities; to develop and cultivate dynamic sites, physically and socially, where a community of thinkers and doers recognizes older adults as partners and truly learns about as well as from older persons; and to be an active and steadfast advocate in word and deed, politically and socially, for the aged population and disenfranchised, oppressed persons in general.

The center reports to the associate provost and is governed by a council of faculty, students, agency directors and leaders in the field of aging.

Functions of the Center

  • Coordination of the current gerontology programs, including the concentration in social gerontology and the minor in social gerontology. For a detailed description of the current programs, see the sociology/anthropology section in this catalog.
  • Promoting the development of individual and multiple investigator research grants; sponsoring education and training conferences, lectures and campus events; assuming responsibility for advisement of the Gerontology Club and the Omega chapter of Sigma Phi Omega, the national honor society in gerontology; and working with community agencies to improve the quality of life for older adults.
  • Developing internship, field placement and study abroad opportunities, especially for gerontology students. The center has established special internship placements in London through the University of North London and study abroad opportunities at the University of St. Martin's in Lancaster, UK.

Career Information

Career opportunities are outstanding in both gerontology and human services. Many students attend graduate school in a variety of areas, including administration in aging, aging services, research on aging, public policy development and education.

Typical employment areas, in both the public and private sectors, include social work, long-term care, service coordination, counseling, business and management, research and policy, health care, speech pathology, recreation and leisure studies and secondary and college-level education.

James M. Clark Center for International Education

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Old Main, Room 109
(607) 753-5900 and 753-4807
E-mail:
steckh@cortland.edu
www.cortland.edu/cie/

Faculty

Henry Steck (Interim Director)

Mission of the Center

The Clark Center for International Education provides an integrated framework for the College's many international activities and programs. Its mission is to promote, coordinate and initiate programs and events which further international education within the campus environment and in the Cortland community.

The Clark Center reports to the provost. Its membership consists of various departments and units from throughout the College, which address different aspects of international study, scholarship and service.

Functions of the Center

  • Help develop and enhance the College's existing curricular offerings and programs with an international focus.
  • Work closely with the College's Study Abroad Program, the International Studies Program, the International Communications and Culture Department, the Project for Eastern and Central Europe, the Trans-Africa Project, and the International Programs Office, and other departments and groups that promote the College's international mission.
  • Develop new international programs for the College and funding proposals for that purpose.
  • Work with faculty and staff to encourage and facilitate faculty and staff exchanges, visiting international faculty and research, teaching and service abroad by SUNY Cortland faculty.
  • Work with the Admissions Office and the Enrollment Management Office to attract and retain students involved in the College's international course offerings and programs.
  • Assist the International Student Association and aid the international student advisor and the director of Whitaker Hall in enriching the educational experience of the College's international students.
  • Initiate, promote and coordinate international events and activities of interest to the campus as well as to Cortland and the surrounding community.
  • Work with the Office of International Programs at SUNY System Administration.

Study Abroad

The International Programs Office administers the College's many opportunities for study abroad. See that section of the catalog for further information.

The International Studies Program

The International Studies Program is an interdisciplinary major in which students study the modern world as a whole rather than any one country or society within it. The program has special appeal for students interested in foreign languages, study abroad and global studies. See that program for further information.

International Communications and Culture Department

This department offers opportunities for the study of foreign languages, foreign literatures and foreign cultures. Liberal arts majors and minors in French and Spanish are administered through this department. Students who incorporate education courses into their programs may qualify for professional certification as teachers. The department also offers courses in Arabic, Chinese and German, and participates in interdisciplinary programs in cinema study and international study.

The Project for Eastern and Central Europe (PECE)

The Project for Eastern and Central Europe fosters and develops affiliations and working relationships between SUNY Cortland and universities in Eastern and Central Europe. PECE sponsors conferences for this purpose as well as student and faculty exchanges. PECE is dedicated to fostering shared knowledge, cooperation and mutual understanding among the peoples of Eastern and Central Europe and those in the United States.

The Trans-Africa Project

The Trans-Africa Project (TAP) fosters and develops affiliations and working relationships between SUNY Cortland and universities in Africa. TAP sponsors conferences for this purpose as well as student and faculty exchanges. TAP is dedicated to fostering shared knowledge, intellectual and cultural cooperation and mutual understanding among the peoples of Africa and those in the United States and the African Diaspora.

Whitaker Hall

Whitaker Hall is a student residence hall containing a number of designated single and double rooms, many with a private bath. Whitaker Hall has a decidedly international atmosphere. Students from around the world live in Whitaker with American students. Preference is given to Cortland students who would like to live with a roommate from another country. World culture nights and evenings of global awareness featuring talks, games, music and food are a regular part of Whitaker's special programming. Through its satellite system, residents can view television programming from around the world.

Global Ambassadors (International Student Organization)

Open to all Cortland students, the purpose of the Global Ambassadors is to provide a link between American students and those from other countries. Travel, activities and programs sponsored by the club foster an atmosphere in which students from other countries can learn about American life and culture while American students learn about the life and culture of the other countries.

Center for Multicultural and Gender Studies

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Old Main, Room 122
(607) 753-5784
E-mail:
mgs@cortland.edu
www.cortland.edu/mcgs/

Faculty

Sheila Cohen (Interim Director)

Mission of the Center

The Center for Multicultural and Gender Studies is comprised of several programs overseen by individual coordinators. The primary goal of the Multicultural and Gender Studies (MCGS) Council is to support the College's mission statement by helping students "develop an ability to function within a pluralistic society, with respect for human diversity."

Specifically, all of the programs endeavor to educate students to appreciate cultural diversity in all of its various forms by designing courses addressing issues of race, ethnicity, class, gender, religious and sexual orientation. A further goal of the programs is to produce students who are well informed and conversant about the dichotomy between the dominant culture and marginalized groups in society. This endeavor is supported by the College-wide General Education requirements in prejudice and discrimination initiated by the council.

In addition to curriculum, the center takes a leadership role in faculty development, student support, sponsorship of cultural events and other activities related to multicultural and gender studies. Our mission is to promote and support scholarship and teaching that enhances our understanding of the experiences and contributions of under-represented groups and women. Congruent with this mission is our effort to work toward improving the campus climate for these same groups so that their experiences and cultures are studied, valued and understood.

Functions of the Center

The Center for Multicultural and Gender Studies functions "as the unit of the College with responsibility for curriculum, research, faculty development, cultural events, student support and other activities related to multicultural and gender studies."

Formed in 1985, the center's foremost objective is to help create a climate that promotes understanding of and appreciation for human difference. The center reflects an inclusive multicultural model where "culture" is broadly defined and multicultural education is thought to encompass factors such as race, ethnicity, gender, class and sexual orientation.

The center's central operating assumption is that all oppressed groups share a similar, though not identical, body of experiences that promotes a common bond. While the separate identities of groups must be acknowledged and respected, the center strongly endorses the need for these groups to work collectively in pursuing social justice.

The agenda of the center is truly multifaceted. Through its curriculum programs, the center emphasizes the intellectual and artistic contributions of groups that traditionally have been under-represented in higher education as well as the historical and often institutionalized obstacles these groups have had to overcome. Through its work with other College units, the center also strives to positively influence the extracurricular campus environment.

The center offers interdisciplinary minors in Asian/Middle Eastern Studies, Jewish Studies, Latin American Studies, Native American Studies and Women's Studies. It also oversees curriculum programs in these areas. Courses in lesbian and gay concerns are offered, but no minor is available yet.

Students who study in these areas are encouraged to think critically and write thoughtfully about the historic, social, economic and political conditions that affect all people living in a culturally diverse society.

Africana Studies

The Africana Studies Department is the oldest of the ethnic studies programs at SUNY Cortland. It became a department in the School of Arts and Sciences in 2006. The Africana Studies Department has associate membership to the Center for Multicultural and Gender Studies.

Asian/Middle Eastern Studies

The Asian/Middle Eastern studies minor is an interdisciplinary program designed to serve the needs of students majoring in any subject area who desire more knowledge regarding Asia, Middle Eastern and Asian American concerns.

Administration of the Asian/Middle Eastern Studies Program and advisement of its students are provided by the Asian and Middle Eastern Studies Committee, a subcommittee of the Center for Multicultural and Gender Studies.

Jewish Studies

The Jewish Studies Program explores the cultural and religious experiences of the Jewish people from their beginnings to the present. At SUNY Cortland, Jewish studies attempts to shed light on the difficult choices all non-dominant groups face with regard to acculturation and assimilation.

Administration of the Jewish Studies Program and advisement of its students are provided by the Jewish Studies Committee, a subcommittee of the Center for Multicultural and Gender Studies.

Latin American Studies

Latin American studies offers a minor designed to complement many academic majors. Students choosing the minor will study the history and cultural production of Latin Americans from the perspective of several disciplines.

Administration of the Latin American Studies Program and advisement of its students are provided by the Latin American Studies Committee, a subcommittee of the Center for Multicultural and Gender Studies.

Native American Studies

The most recent interdisciplinary and multicultural studies program to be developed at SUNY Cortland, Native American studies offers a minor designed to complement many academic majors. Students choosing this minor will study the Native American cultures from the perspectives offered by several disciplines.

Administration of the Native American Studies Program and advisement of its students are provided by the coordinator and the Native American Concerns Committee, a subcommittee of the Center for Multicultural and Gender Studies.

Women's Studies

The study of women, their challenges and their experiences was introduced in 1988 to the SUNY Cortland curriculum. With interdisciplinary courses in such areas as African American studies, English, health and sociology, the Women's studies minor is designed to complement all academic majors.

Administration of the Women's Studies Program and advisement of its students are provided by the Women's Studies Committee, a subcommittee of the Center for Multicultural and Gender Studies.

 

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