By Jane R. Elgass
A number of visiting scholars are expected to be on campus this year under the auspices of the Visiting Scholars Program in the Office of the Vice Provost for Minority Affairs.
Rumors of the death of what was called the King/Chavez/Parks Visiting Scholars Program are untrue, says Vice Provost for Minority Affairs Charles D. Moody Sr.
“The program never died. The state withdrew funding for the program last year, but we continued with our funds. We are doing so this year, through a reallocation of funds within my office.”
Moody says the state did allocate $18,000 to the U-M for the program this year, with the suggestion that the University collaborate with other state schools in bringing scholars of color to campus.
He has notified deans and department directors of the state funding and says a number have expressed interest in the cooperative project. Scholars on campus under this program will be identified as King/Chavez/Parks Visiting Scholars.
In addition to visiting campus units, many visiting scholars work with Moody’s office in outreach programs such as College Day.
Since its inception in 1987, more than 200 scholars have visited campus for stays ranging from a few days to several months. Units that so far have invited scholars this year include the Program in American Culture, Department of English Language and Literature, Program in Latino Studies and the School of Art.
Moody says the program “has done much to enhance the visibility and presence of faculty of color on campus. This is a step in the direction of changing the climate and culture of the University,” he notes, adding that the program “also has helped change the expectations of members of the University community with respect to students and faculty of color.
“It is an important piece of our overall move to a multicultural community,” Moody says. “I feel it is one of our most important programs. I have been able to see its impact both on and off campus.”
