[asiacouncil] Vote Needed - Financial Support for China Program Professor

[Eric Spears]

Dear Fellow Council Members,

Bao Gang has requested that the Asia Council help support the travel expenses of Liam Madden to China this summer.  The program’s student enrollment is lower than expected.  In order to keep the number of courses offered for students at the advertised cost, Bao Gang is requesting that funds from the Asia Council faculty development grant be used to pay toward Liam’s airfare.  In addition, and if a faculty member is taken out of this summer’s program, it is likely more students will withdraw from the program once they learn their preferred courses are not available.  A lack of student retention would also jeopardize the program budget. 

This expenditure would also be seen as faculty development.  Liam can learn how Bao Gang operates the program.  Liam would then be able to be a director of a future Asia Council program.   I spoke with our treasurer, Salli Vargas, and confirmed there are funds in the agency account that can be used toward this cause.  She recommends putting $1,000 toward the $1,200 airfare.  There would remain $7,000 in the account to be used toward faculty development workshops, including the one this spring at Perimeter’s campus.  

In the spirit of transparency and collegiality, could you please send me your vote by no later than Monday?  Bao Gang needs to determine what to do with the program.  

Many thanks,

Eric K. Spears, Ph
Mildred Miller Fort Foundation Eminent Scholar & Chair of Global Engagement
Associate Professor of Geography

Columbus State University
4225 University Avenue
Columbus, GA 31907, USA

Tel: +1 (706) 507-8545
E-mail: spears_eric at columbusstate.edu
Web: https://cie.columbusstate.edu/ 
Personal Web: http://ericspears.us

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