Press Release: November 30, 2001

UIC Provost Reviews Business Plan for Asian American Resource and Cultural Center

On November 21st, The Asian American Coalition Committee (AACC) with the help of Mo-Yin Tam, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, submitted to the Provost of the Univerdsity of Illinois at Chicago a comprehensive business plan for a campus Asian American Cultural and Resource Center (AARCC). Students are eagerly awaiting an approval of the plan in subsequent weeks. If this proposal is implemented, the AARCC will be the first of its kind in the entire Midwest, and it will serve as a model for universities across the nation.

The proposal is part of a continuing UIC student effort to address the needs of Asian American students on campus. "The students seek to increase university support of Asian Americans through an Asian American resource and cultural center, an Asian American Studies program, and an office of academic support and networking," an AACC member said.

AACC and Mo-Yin Tam have prepared the proposal with the help of other faculty and staff on campus, including members of the Chancellor's Committee on the Status of Asian Americans.

For the past two years an increasing number of UIC students have been demanding a center for celebrating Asian American cultures and fostering awareness of this fastest-growing minority group in the US. The students have repeatedly met with various University faculty and administrators including the Provost and Chancellor, who have expressed their support. Corinne Kodama, Assistant Director of the Office of Career Services, commented,"An Asian American resource or cultural center at UIC would be a great step towards meeting the unique needs of the Asian American student population, one of the largest and most diverse groups on campus." However, the University has not yet implemented any actions.

On October of 2001 a group of students, faculty, and staff met with Provost Charlotte Tate to discuss the possibilities of establishing the center within the coming academic year. Tate requested a business plan outlining the objectives, structure, and proposed activities of an Asian American resource and cultural center. She also appointed Tam to spearhead this initiative with AACC. Richard Lim, Vice Provost for Academic Administration, explained,"UIC needs an infrastructure for the center planned out before we bring in a director for it. That way the director is immediately ready to function in full capacity and doesn't have to first bother with those details."

Since then, Tam and AACC had been gathering data from various national institutions and organizations, including the Asian American Institute, the Census Bureau, and Governor Ryan's Liaison to Asian Americans. Dr. Phillip Royster, director of UIC's African American Cultural Center, and Dr. Rodrigo Carramiñana, director of UIC's Rafael Cintron-Ortiz Latino Cultural Center, closely monitored the progress of the plan. They have adamantly endorsed and encouraged the student movement for the center.

The Undergraduate Student Government President Brian Crowe and the Student Trustee Noah Wolfe have also voiced their enthusiasm for the cause."We look forward to taking the next [step], which involves a firm commitment to a firm timeline," Crowe had said.

The proposal begins by recognizing the large and growing presence of Asian Americans in the US and in US institutions of higher education. It notes that Asian American students comprise 23.5% of the UIC undergraduate student population, the highest percentage amongst all major universities in Illinois and the Midwest. Of the seven major Illinois universities, only UIC and DePaul have not established any Asian American programs whatsoever.

The proposal explains that the AARCC will provide students with academic, career, and leadership development programs along with psychosocial counseling targeting Asian Americans. The AARCC will strive to be the focal point of Asian American cultural and educational programming for UIC and the greater Chicago community. It will attract leading scholars and grants to the University and increase retention rates among its Asian American students.

Initially the AARCC will be established by hiring a tenured faculty director, designating space, and allocating a programming budget by the fall of 2002.

On November 2000, Governor Ryan co-sponsored the first All-State Conference on Asian American Studies in Illinois, held in Chicago, to encourage Illinois universities to create such programs. While distinct from an academic program, the center will work closely with faculty to bring an Asian American studies program to UIC.

The Asian American Coalition Committee is an umbrella organization of Asian American student organizations at UIC. It aims to unify Asian American students to strengthen their voice on campus, to educate the entire UIC community about issues concerning Asian Americans, and to empower Asian American students through their gaining visibility and representation.