As the namesake college of the most diverse county on earth, Queens College (QC) will soon broaden its academic horizons with the Asian American Pacific Islander Community Studies (AAPICS) program.
The interdisciplinary program, to be offered as a supportive minor will begin accepting students in the spring 2010 semester. Students majoring in urban studies, history, political science or anthropology, for example, can combine AAPICS to interact with their major degree objective.
QC’s Asian/American Center received a $1.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to develop a new curriculum in AAPICS with a focus on community partnerships.
“We are responding to the changing demographics and diversity in the borough of Queens, which was grown exponentially due to the post-1965 immigration from all over the world,” said Madhulika Khandelwal, Director of the Asian/American Center and Professor of Urban Studies.
“This program will frame local experiences in a global context, informing and educating the entire community,” he said.
The curriculum is still being formulated by the faculty. Academic offerings include Asian American history, a course on Downtown Flushing, business and development, voter issues, civic partnerships and more.
“The program is an effort to really engage in the community, to get involved in it and take advantage of it,” said Dr. James L. Muyskens, President of QC. “This grant is a major force in making this possible.”
AAPICS will also feature a bilingual support staff and a multimedia resource center on the Asian American Pacific Islander Diaspora and the culturally diverse communities of Queens.
The innovative program is both collaborating with and supported by local Asian American community groups such as the Minkwon Center for Social Justice; Taiwan Center; South Asian Youth Action (SAYA!); the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF), and the Coalition for Asian American Children and Families (CACF).
Numerous elected officials have given early support for AAPICS, including Comptroller-elect and current Councilmember John Liu and Borough President Helen Marshall.
“For me, it’s about collaboration to plan things, to create a place where students can come and talk,” said Khandelwal.
