William Paterson University Awarded Japan Foundation Grant
in Support of Japanese Language Courses

William Paterson University in Wayne, New Jersey, has been awarded a generous grant from the Japan Foundation to support the expansion of its Japanese language education program.

The grant was awarded during a ceremony on November 15th at noon in Hobart Manor on the University campus. Mr. Fumio Iwai, Deputy Consul General and Director of the Japan Information Center at the Consulate General of Japan in New York, presented the grant to William Paterson University President Kathleen Waldron, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Edward Weil, and Dean Kara Rabbitt of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Japan Foundation's Grant Program in support of Japanese language courses will provide additional funding for the University's growing Japanese language program. For the Fall 2012 semester, 116 William Paterson University students from vastly diverse backgrounds enrolled in Japanese language classes, with an additional 17 students enrolling in Japanese literature courses taught in English.

"The College of Humanities and Social Sciences is very honored to see our multidisciplinary Asian Studies Program recognized by the Japan Foundation and the Consulate General of Japan in New York. The grant serves William Paterson University's efforts in promoting and strengthening regional knowledge of Japanese language and civilization," says Kara Rabbitt, Dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. "This grant will support additional instruction in Japanese during the period of the award and will allow us to continue to build on what has become a very dynamic and popular program on our campus."

William Paterson University is one of the few institutions in New Jersey to offer a full four-year course of instruction in Japanese language education within its rapidly growing Asian Studies Program. In addition to language studies, this Program also offers a variety of courses about Japan, including studies of its history, cinema, art, literature, and culture. Established in 2006, the University's Asian Studies Program offers bachelor's degrees with concentrations in East Asian studies, South Asian studies and Asian languages. The Asian languages concentration also provides teacher training tracks in Japanese and Chinese.

William Paterson University further encourages the growth of interest in Japan through the support of its student organizations. Student fans of Japan at the university have formed an organization called "Go Japan." Go Japan has been vigorously organizing a multitude of activities, ranging from cultural events to fundraising in support of the victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami in 2011. The goal of Go Japan is to promote friendship and more dialogue between the people of the United States and Japan, on the William Paterson University campus and throughout the community.