Departmental Resources

Special Programs and Resources

Curry Gift for Chinese Studies

	In 2004, Ravenel Curry III (pictured below on right) generously provided a one million dollar gift for China Studies at Furman. This gift has been the impetus to the Furman China Initiative, an effort to build a nationally recognized program for Chinese studies at a liberal arts college and to expand opportunities for undergraduate academic study, experiential learning, and cross-cultural exchange in China.

The gift has also been directed to the improvement of the Chinese language programs, to the hiring of two Chinese specialist faculty members, to administrative support at Furman and in China, to the expansion of the Fall in China program, and to increasing awareness of China at Furman.By creating the opportunity for these improvements along with facilitating such programs as China’s Global Rise, the Summer China Experience, and Furman Teachers in China, the Curry Gift for Chinese Studies has launched Furman on a path to excellence in undergraduate education in Chinese Studies.

The gift has also been directed to the improvement of the Chinese language programs, to the hiring of two Chinese specialist faculty members, to administrative support at Furman and in China, to the expansion of the Fall in China program, and to increasing awareness of China at Furman.By creating the opportunity for these improvements along with facilitating such programs as China’s Global Rise, the Summer China Experience, and Furman Teachers in China, the Curry Gift for Chinese Studies has launched Furman on a path to excellence in undergraduate education in Chinese Studies.

Ed and Beth Evans Jones Endowed Fund for Asian Studies

Edward Jones contributed to Furman both as a history professor and as the first Department Chair of the Asian Studies Department. Upon his charisma, Furman introduced Asian and African subjects into its curriculum in the 1960s, paving the way for this fusion in liberal arts colleges nationwide. His wife, Beth Evans, served Furman through her work with the Senior Order and the Chaplain's office. The Jones Fund was founded to honor this couple (pictured at left) and the contributions they made to both the Department of Asian Studies and the greater Furman and Greenville communities.

The fund, supported by the donations of alumni, provides financing for a wide range of Departmental programs such as lectures, visiting scholars, scholarships, and student conference travel. In 2003, the Ed and Beth Evans Jones Endowed Fund, in collaboration with other campus organizations, helped bring the monks of the Drepung Loseling Monastery to Furman to construct a sand mandala.

The Jones Fund also funds small student grants for innovative research, language study, internships and other projects over the summer. Students apply for these competitive grants each spring. Some examples of prior Jones Fund Grant recipients have interned at consulting firms in Shanghai, presented papers at undergraduate research conferences in Japan and strengthened their languages skills at Middlebury Summer Language Institutes and in China

Richard and Carrie Tucker

	Richard and Carrie Tucker are strong supporters of the Asian Studies Department. They have generously supported the Summer China Experience since 2008, and Carrie also serves on the Asian Studies Task Force. The Tuckers continue their enthusiastic outreach in China and are now working on a Rodeo China project; look for updates on this event in the coming months!

Organizations

South Carolina Center for Teaching about Asia (SCCTA)

	The SCCTA, headquartered at Furman University, is associated with the National Consortium for Teaching About Asia (NCTA) funded by the Freeman Foundation. The purpose of SCCTA is to work with South Carolina school districts to enhance instruction on Asia throughout the curriculum, especially in world history, social studies, and geography courses. The faculty teams working with SCCTA seminars are drawn from Furman's own Asian specialists, but also include lecturers from other university campuses as well as master teachers who have demonstrated their effectiveness in middle and high school classrooms. Please visit the SCCTA website for more information.

The SCCTA, headquartered at Furman University, is associated with the National Consortium for Teaching About Asia (NCTA) funded by the Freeman Foundation. The purpose of SCCTA is to work with South Carolina school districts to enhance instruction on Asia throughout the curriculum, especially in world history, social studies, and geography courses. The faculty teams working with SCCTA seminars are drawn from Furman's own Asian specialists, but also include lecturers from other university campuses as well as master teachers who have demonstrated their effectiveness in middle and high school classrooms. Please visit the SCCTA website for more information.

Other Campus Organizations

Furman offers a range of extracurricular opportunities for those interested in Asia. The Association of Students Interested in Asia (A.S.I.A.) Club offers opportunties for students interested in Asia to interact and learn together about Asia, while offering campus-wide events to raise awareness of Asia within the Furman community. The Furman University Japan Interest Group (FUJI) is for those who are interested in anything Japanese. Contact Dr. Shusuke Yagi for more information. Additionally, the Furman University International Student Association (FUISA) offers interaction between American and international students as well as promoting global awareness in the Furman community. The Furman in Asia group is an alumni network for Furman graduates who are interested in or living in Asia. For more information about any Asia organization, please feel free to contact us!

Facilities

Asian Studies Reading Room

Fall 2005 began a new era in Asian Studies departmental life as we moved into our new Asian Studies Suite in Furman Hall. In addition to new offices for the Department Chair and Programs Coordinator, our suite provides a reading room which houses a collection of Asian works for student and faculty perusal. The collection, named in honor of Emeritus Asian Studies Professor, Dr. James B. Leavell, was established with numerous volumes contributed by Dr. Leavell and a 100+ volumes donation from the Chinese Government. Fundraising continues in order to expand the collection. For further information about this opportunity, please contact Becky Duckett. The Reading Room also provides opportunities for hosting receptions, meetings, and drop-ins for our visitors, students, alumni, and faculty, along with serving as a gathering place between classes. We hope you will drop by and enjoy a visit with us!

Fall 2005 began a new era in Asian Studies departmental life as we moved into our new Asian Studies Suite in Furman Hall. In addition to new offices for the Department Chair and Programs Coordinator, our suite provides a reading room which houses a collection of Asian works for student and faculty perusal. The collection, named in honor of Emeritus Asian Studies Professor, Dr. James B. Leavell, was established with numerous volumes contributed by Dr. Leavell and a 100+ volumes donation from the Chinese Government. Fundraising continues in order to expand the collection. For further information about this opportunity, please contact Becky Duckett. The Reading Room also provides opportunities for hosting receptions, meetings, and drop-ins for our visitors, students, alumni, and faculty, along with serving as a gathering place between classes. We hope you will drop by and enjoy a visit with us!

Language Houses

The Japanese and Chinese Language Houses offer students an opportunity to immerse themselves in a chosen language without having to leave Furman! Located in North Village A, the houses comprise a year long program centered around language practice. Students enroll in a yearlong course (MLL 28) to enhance the experience, with each language being guided by an on-campus native speaking language assistant. For information about the Japanese language house, please contact Izumi Tokunaga. Both language houses sponsor cultural activities throughout the year. Please contact the Asian Studies Department for more information about this opportunity.

Japanese Place of Peace

In November 2004, the Furman Board of Trustees voted to accept a gift from the Tsuzuki family of Nagoya, Japan that brought an authentic Japanese Place of Peace to Furman. This extraordinary gift, constructed above Furman's Japanese garden, provides an opportunity for the Furman community to become better acquainted with both the Japanese culture and the Buddhist tradition. The temple is part of a larger vision to expand Asian Studies opportunities at Furman which will further propel Furman into the nation's top Asian Studies programs. Dedication for The Place of Peace was completed in September 2008. Click below for amazing photos of the reconstruction. Also visit the Place of Peace link here or watch an introductory video here.