Global and Area Studies, commonly known as international studies, is amazing. I think it might be one of the best programs on campus, although I am highly biased (it’s one of my majors after all).
I’ve found it one of the best ways outside of international travel, to learn about the world. I’ve learned about atrocities committed and peace agreements signed. I’m able to speak French and have had the chance to take a class taught by a former ambassador.
Yet, much like the rest of the university, Global and Area Studies has been impacted by budget cuts.
In the Fall, Global and Area Studies will be sucked up into the Political Science Department. This isn’t a bad thing. Most of the classes we take are partnered with political science and I can understand why this had to happen.
Considering the situation, it was probably best to combine the two departments. Students will now get the best of both worlds and the faculty in each department is amazing.
The budget crisis, however, at the state level has also impacted the Global and Area Studies program.
As advising begins, students in the program will notice that there will not be a visiting professor next year. Through the grapevine, Wyoming did not allocate the funds to the department in order to have this program continue next year.
For those of you who don’t know, Global and Area Studies was fortunate to have a visiting professor come in every academic year to teach a course or two. The senior visiting scholars have been funded through the Wyoming Excellence Fund.
This past year, former ambassador Gary Grappo taught a class in the fall on US foreign policy in the Middle East. Last year, George Varughese, country representative in Nepal for The Asia Foundation, also taught a few classes.
On the side, these scholars also give presentations throughout the state about their work and experiences. I’ve attended some of these lectures as extra credit and some just for the fun of hearing them speak.
I was fortunate to take Grappo’s class. It might have been one of the most fulfilling experiences of my academic career because I got to hear his take on what was currently happening in the Middle East and his experiences working there.
One of the days that sticks out in my mind, is when he called former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, “Condi” as if he had gone out and had lunch with her (which I’m sure happened once or twice).
Maybe that shocks me so much is because Grappo was demonstrating his real-world experience. No longer was I learning theory but instead what worked in the real world and what didn’t work.
That’s one of the most important aspects of having these visiting scholars come in to teach classes. We’re taught the theories and what should work when everything goes according to plan. But life isn’t like that and these scholars show us what happens in the world and what to do when the theories don’t apply (which is almost all the time).
It’s massively detrimental not to bring in these scholars and students looking forward to this program will be stripped of their chance to participate. I feel lucky that I got to take advantage of it but also stripped of another chance to see what else the world has to offer me because of my chosen major.
Hopefully the visiting scholars fund will be brought back after next year. Everyone should be able to take a class with one of these scholars and ultimately have the world brought to them in Wyoming.
