Center Profiles & Contacts
Center for Slavic, Eurasian, and East European Studies
Since 1991 the Center for Slavic, Eurasian, and East European Studies (CSEEES) has promoted understanding of East European and Eurasian countries and worked to enhance capacity to meet strategic U.S. needs through a variety of projects and activities: teacher training, public outreach, course development, instruction in area and language studies, conferences and workshops, and faculty and student exchanges. CSEEES draws upon a broad base of support, with more than 20 core faculty and another 20 associated faculty members who regularly teach courses and engage in research focused on Eastern Europe, Russia, or Eurasia. The Center’s main activities include
- BA and MA in Russian and East European Studies (RUES).
Undergraduate and Graduate degrees in RUES offer students a rigorous interdisciplinary language and area studies curriculum; opportunities for study and work abroad; faculty and financial support in pursuing original research. - Student Support.
CSEEES currently grants seven academic year Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships and five summer FLAS Fellowships. In 2006-07, academic year FLAS awards include tuition and $15,000 in stipend and are for on-campus study. Summer awards include tuition for language programs, a $2,400 stipend, and may be used abroad for intermediate and advanced language study. The Center also utilizes graduate research positions, as well as accepting undergraduate work-study positions. - Study Abroad.
Graduate and undergraduate study abroad programs are available in Russia, Austria, Bosnia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and elsewhere. A special opportunity is the Burch Summer Field Research Seminar in Vienna and Bosnia/Croatia led by Center Director Robert Jenkins for UNC students. - Instructional Support.
CSEEES offers curriculum development grants; supports funding for selected courses; provides seed funding for new faculty lines; and awards stipends for outside speakers to supplement courses. - Research and Travel Grants.
Funding for faculty travel; conference sponsorship; hosting visiting scholars; occasional specific small-scale projects; and other initiatives are all offered on a semi-annual competitive basis. - Community Outreach and Teacher Training.
CSEEES cooperates with other institutions at UNC and across North Carolina in teacher training programs aimed at increasing the quality of international education curricula. Each year CSEEES sponsors a wide variety of speakers and events covering a diverse range of topics related to the Center’s area focus. RUES MA students regularly participate in outreach to local K-12 teachers and students. CSEEES publishes (both in print and electronically) a quarterly newsletter, Connections, informing colleagues and the community of events and developments at the Center.