The University of Central Arkansas has decided to not offer Japanese classes in the spring 2021 semester. Japanese has been taught at UCA for many years. This created a door for University of Central Arkansas students and Arkansas high school students to learn about Japanese language and culture. These Japanese classes gave opportunities to many of UCA’s students for Japan based study abroad programs such as the JET program for teaching in Japan, and to meet other students with similar interests and goals. There are currently over 50 students enrolled for the Fall 2020 semester which shows the classes to be very popular at University of Central Arkansas. Currently, UCA has two partnership universities in Japan; Meiji Gakuin University and Nanzan University. Japanese classes at UCA have supported and encouraged students who want to study at abroad every year. The faculty in charge of the Japanese classes have also contributed to UCA as a supervisor of Japan Outreach Initiative (JOI) Coordinator, director of Bear Camps for kids in the summer, and as the current advisor of Japanese club. Japanese Faculty and the JOI coordinator organized the Fall Japanese festival which was held at UCA this past November. 420 guests and 80 volunteers (from Hendrix College, Arkansas Tech University, University of Arkansas Fort Smith, and Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, & The Arts) joined this event. This festival was a rare experience for the students and community and had a great impact on the people in Arkansas by helping increase understanding and tolerance for Japanese culture. Without David House, the faculty in charge of Japanese classes, these events would never have happened.  Upon further investigation, it appears that the notion to cancel Japanese classes is an unfair one to the students at the University of Central Arkansas and the community as a whole. Canceling the Japanese classes at UCA also goes against its mission to improve and educate their students in diversity and global engagement. The many activities created with the support of the Japanese faculty that are provided to the students, faculty, and staff will be gone. Also, many students whose interests and goals necessitate Japanese courses will be unable to utilize UCA to pursue said interests and goals. This will also affect a popular UCA RSO: Japanese Club.  David House, its adviser, and the Japanese classes act as a great connector between academics, culture, and club activities. The loss of Japanese classes at UCA will negatively impact many aspects of University life, and only disappoint the students and community. 

1. Benefits of learning Japanese for students

a)      Japan gives bigger business opportunities:

As the second largest economy in the world and now third by GDP, there are hundreds of billions of dollars spent by the Japanese on consumer goods and services. Its imports and exports are healthy, and there are Japanese multinational corporations with branches around the world.

b)    Japan is a major ally of the United States:

The U.S.-Japan bilateral economic relationship is one of United States strongest and deepest economic partners in the world and features substantial trade and investment flows. Further, the U.S. and Japan also share more sister city relationships with each other than with any other countries.

The strength of the U.S.-Japan relationship is due in part to the substantial reservoir of goodwill created by the close grassroots ties between the U.S. and Japanese people, which is often supported by the U.S. and Japanese governments. For example, there are more than 30,000 American alumni of the Japanese government-sponsored Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) program, including nearly 200 JET program alumni working at the Department of State. Further, UCA just finished its two-year commitment to the Japan Outreach Initiative, which helped popularize Japanese language and culture at UCA and in Arkansas.

c)     Japanese Pop Culture:

There are many fans of Japanese pop culture in the U.S.  That is one of the big motivations for some students. Currently, Universities in Arkansas offer a limited number of Japanese courses.  Having Japanese classes attracts a large number of students to UCA. 

2. Keep teacher’s position:

 If David House’s position becomes part time, it will limit the amount of time he can help his students. It will also make it difficult for him to support events, maintain effective office hours to help students, and to assist students with participating in the JET program. His personal experience with the JET program makes him a great advocate for it and has helped encourage students to apply themselves. Due to the current global situation, the University has to deal with budget cuts, and this “temporary” change in the Spring could lead to permanent closure of Japanese classes.

Your support of this petition is greatly appreciated. Please sign the petition if you would also like to keep Japanese classes at University of Central Arkansas. 

We, the students of University of Central Arkansas, would like to keep Japanese classes as part of our curriculum. It is an important asset for students and it allows them to reach their greatest potential.

Please do not take these opportunities from us.

Thank you very much for your time.

This petition was supported in part by:

UCA Japanese club

 

Activity in the last 2 years

At UCA

2018 Oct. Tea Ceremony (53people)

2018 Nov. Halloween Festival (125people)

2018 Nov. Haiku-Hike (24people)

2018 Dec. Japanese Concert (82people)

2019 Feb. Mochi-pounding event (89people)

2019 Oct. Tea Ceremony (51people)

2019 Nov. OMATSURI Japanese Festival (500people)

2020 Jan. Mochi Pounding event (90 people)

2020 Mar. Tea Ceremony (45 people)

 

Out of UCA

2018 Sep. Memphis Japan Festival (Memphis, Tennessee)

2018 Oct. Conway Eco-Art Festival (Conway, Arkansas)

2019 Feb. Cherry Blossom Festival (Hot springs, Arkansas)

2019 Apr. Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival (Nashville, Tennessee)

2019 Sep. Memphis Japan Festival (Memphis, Tennessee)

2019 Oct. Conway Art Festival (Conway, Arkansas)