The Need for Support
The Italian Studies Program is a new program at WVU that took effect in the fall semester 2004. The Italian studies minor was created with the help and support of the Italian-American community in West Virginia and it offers an opportunity to continue the study of the Italian language, culture and civilization beyond the elementary level.
In the last five years the interest in Italian at WVU has boomed, as indicated by a number of measures:
- Between Spring 2000 and Fall 2005, enrollments in Italian have increased over 300%.
- More WVU students study abroad in Italy than in any other foreign destination.
- Since 2003, two new Italy-related student associations have been created (the Circolo italiano and the Italian-American Organization).
WVU is now poised to move forward on this record of achievement in a way that could effectively preserve the Italian-American heritage throughout the state of West Virginia and give students more opportunities to learn Italian. Learning the language may be the most powerful means possible for preserving the Italian-American heritage in West Virginia.
ITALIAN STUDIES PROGRAM FUNDING PRIORITIES:
- Adding additional teaching personnel, with potential for exploring interest in an Italian studies major and possibilities for state certification for teaching Italian in West Virginia schools.
- Establishing an endowment to support Italian Studies minors as they participate in study abroad programs.
- Establishing a student enrichment fund to support the costs of educational trips, such as visiting the Museum of Immigration in Ellis Island, NY.
- Supporting the effort to collect from the Italian-American community in our area oral histories, family papers and other documents, and to house them in the West Virginia Collection of the WVU library. This support would help to preserve Italian-American culture and provide a resource for scholars and community members engaging in research.