Center in Paris planned for fall 2001

As the France-Chicago Center takes shape on campus, plans to strengthen the University’s presence in Europe are in the works as well.

An additional new initiative, designed to anchor Chicago’s program of European studies that focuses on France, will be realized in the University’s new Center in Paris, which will house activities for Chicago’s undergraduates, graduate students, faculty and alumni.

According to John Boyer, Dean of the College and the Martin A. Ryerson Distinguished Service Professor in History, the center, among its many proposed functions, will:

• Sponsor a series of intensive undergraduate courses in French, Western civilization and particular disciplines in conjunction with other Parisian universities where College students are enrolled

• Host several University predoctoral fellows who will pursue dissertation research for up to 12 months

• Organize, in conjunction with the Chicago Group on Modern France, a nationally competitive postdoctoral fellowship program that will bring younger scholars to Paris for a year of research

• Provide a conference facility where Chicago faculty may hold scholarly seminars and professional conferences with colleagues from France and throughout Europe

• Serve as a meeting place for Chicago alumni activities in Europe

A Center in Paris advisory committee is in the process of identifying a site with the goal of beginning classes there by Fall Quarter 2001.