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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Dear ASEEES Members:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I am writing to you with a request to assist in efforts to collect data on Slavic, East European, and Eurasian studies experts’ training and careers. The National Council of Area Studies Associations, of which we are a member, is conducting a survey that will produce a picture of the present and future of language and area studies in the United States. ASEEES is spearheading this effort. The data collected will represent area studies experts from different world regions with diverse disciplinary specialties. We request 10-20 minutes of your time in filling out this important survey by Saturday, <b><span style='color:red'>February 1</span></b>.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>A number of trends across universities and within the U.S. Department of Education have raised concerns about the training of the next generation of area studies experts. As U.S. federal funding for area and language studies has dramatically decreased in the last few years, it has become increasingly important for our profession to show reliable data on the state of the field. We know you share our commitment to in-depth language training, cultural immersion, and nuanced expertise, so we ask you to participate in this survey as part of an effort to inform and influence policies that will affect our future.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The survey can be found at: <a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NCASA2014">https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NCASA2014</a> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The data gathered by this survey will be presented at a policy research conference in April of 2014, "Internationalization of U.S. Education in the 21st Century: The Future of International and Foreign Language Studies." Data from the study will also be published in scholarly publications, and used to inform scholars, educators and funders about the current situation and future prospects for international and foreign language studies in the U.S. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><b>What: area studies experts’ survey<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><b>Where: </b><a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NCASA2014"><b>https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NCASA2014</b></a><b> <o:p></o:p></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><b>When: by Saturday, February 1<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>If you have any questions or concerns about the survey, or if you experience any technical difficulties, please contact Dr. Laura Adams, the principal investigator of the study, at </span><a href="mailto:ladams@fas.harvard.edu">ladams@fas.harvard.edu</a><span style='color:black'>.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I thank you in advance for your participation in this important survey.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Regards,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Lynda Park, Executive Director<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Association for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>203C Bellefield Hall <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>University of Pittsburgh<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Pittsburgh, PA 15260-6424 USA<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>+1 (412) 648-9788 (direct), +1 (412) 648-9911 (main)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>+1 (412) 648-9815 (fax)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.aseees.org/">www.aseees.org</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.aseees.org/support.html"><b><span style='color:#C00000'>Support ASEEES</span></b></a><b><span style='color:#C00000'> – Ask Me about Planned Giving</span></b><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Association-for-Slavic-East-European-and-Eurasian-Studies/141362775903086">Find us on Facebook</a> | <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/groups?mostPopular=&gid=2585509">Join us on LinkedIn</a> | <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/aseeestudies">Follow us on Twitter</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>