MIIS acquisition good for Midd Students, alumni, staff and reputation benefit

Author: Charlie Chapin '04

As a recent graduate and lifelong Californian, I strongly urge the faculty to reconsider their votes against the acquisition of Monterey Institute for International Studies (MIIS). Acquiring MIIS represents a significant step in building opportunities for educations and careers and it certainly does not dilute Middlebury's focus on the undergraduate.

Through its language departments in the College and its summer Language Schools, Middlebury has earned a reputation as a leading institution in the field of languages, a reputation that is relatively unknown on the West Coast. In my experience, the best way to describe to Californians my experience at the Language Schools has been to compare it to the summer intensive language programs at MIIS. They recognize the prestige of MIIS, but have not heard of Middlebury.

Imagine if all the regional recognition of MIIS was joined to Middlebury. Linking the two would spread both the reputations of both schools and their alumni networks. For students and alumni, academic prestige can prove an important ally when applying for internships, jobs and graduate schools. Wide alumni networks can also provide career advice and job leads. Adding the MIIS alumni base to Middlebury's thus creates an additional geographic hub for West Coast and Pacific Rim opportunities.

Next, consider the intensive English programs. It is undeniable that English is the current lingua franca of the international community and it would be remiss to overlook MIIS's offerings in English as a Second Language (ESL) and Translation/Interpretation in considering Middlebury's future as a first-rate school for International Studies. Many consider English to be the most important second language worth learning, yet international students cannot attend Middlebury to study English without prior achievement of near-native proficiency.

MIIS's English programs also represent a unique demographic currently missing from Middlebury. Most students at the Middlebury Language Schools aim to use their languages among corresponding cultures. Students of MIIS's ESL and Translation/Interpretation programs, however, are focused on bringing English to these cultures. As the language spreads, these students will be building trans-cultural, trans-linguistic bridges to the international community.

Second, the array of unique graduate programs at MIIS is impressive. They have a Graduate School of Translation and Interpretation, a Graduate School of Language and Educational Linguistics (focusing on teaching ESL and foreign languages and including Peace Corps Master's International Programs), a Graduate School of International Policy Studies (including a three-year Bachelor's/Master's combo program and certificates in Nonproliferation Studies and Development Project Management) and The Fisher Graduate School of International Business.

ALL programs require study of a foreign language.

The similarities between MIIS's and Middlebury's summer language programs may raise questions of superfluous programs. Actually, the existence of a second campus would prove a boon - it would also allow for instruction in more languages and consolidation of programs with low enrollment. For example, Portuguese is only offered at Middlebury, while MIIS is beginning programs in Farsi and Korean this summer. These separate pursuits could be developed into a trend - new languages or languages with fewer students can be offered at just one of the campuses and languages of high demand can be taught at both. As enrollment shrinks or grows in each language, the availability of two campuses allows for more flexibility and more possibilities.

The final question is whether or not the students at the College would feel like their position as the heart of Middlebury were being compromised by the acquisition.

The answer is no. MIIS would continue as a separate entity, distinct from the College - just as the Language Schools, Breadloaf and the Starr Schools Abroad are today. It is and would remain devoted to graduate students (until summer) while the College is and will remain devoted to undergraduates.

Consider also the size - there are approximately 780 students enrolled at MIIS and about 2,350 students at the College, according to their Web sites. The undergraduates would remain the vast majority. If anything, the spirit of community at the College would gain more visibility. Think of any other fine American liberal arts college that expanded into a nationally and internationally name-recognized school. It would not have lasted this long without its consistent grounding in undergraduate education.

While the College must always remain the heart of Middlebury, it can and it should secure itself a place in the future by broadening its offerings to include Monterey. The mission of Middlebury College, according to the current handbook, is, partially, "to [maintain] conspicuous excellence in those areas of its traditional strengths such as language, literature and an international perspective." Just as the faculty seek to ground students "in an understanding of the Western intellectual tradition," I ask that they continue to look to the west. For our sakes as students and alumni and for the sake of a Middlebury education, I ask you to look to the west.