Background

Created in 2009.

Charge

  • To advance linguistics education and training at U.S. colleges and universities.
  • To promote the development and sustenance of linguistics programs and departments.
  • To facilitate communications among and between the LSA and linguistics programs and departments on issues of mutual interest and concern.
  • To consult as needed on the collection of data on faculty, students, graduates, and other pertinent information.
  • To serve as a resource for those concerned about the diminution of linguistics programs and departments and about the incorporation of linguistic content into broader, interdisciplinary enterprises.
  • To assist programs and departments with recruiting and retaining talented students, undergraduate majors and degree candidates.
  • To highlight and address the unique needs of undergraduate programs and students.

Responsibilities

The responsibilities of the Committee include but are not limited to:

  • Partnering with NSF and American Academy of Arts & Sciences on data collection projects.
  • Convening an annual roundtable of dept/program heads at LSA Annual Meeting.
  • Developing a resource guide for those seeking to start new programs or upgrade their programs to departments.
  • Examining linguistics training in the U.S. Partnering with the new PR committee to develop/fine tune student "recruitment" materials.
  • Proactive outreach to departments: LSA as a resource, place to contact for help.

Membership (open)

Ideally, the committee should include:

  • At least one member of the Executive Committee
  • At least one current department head (PhD granting)
  • At least one undergraduate program/dept head (non-PhD)
  • At least two students (1 undergrad; 1 grad)
  • Former program/dept heads
  • Others as interested

Committee Chairs

  • Kristin Denham, Western Washington University, (2023), Chair
  • Christina Bjorndahl, Carnegie Mellon University, (2023), Junior Chair

Executive Committee Liaison: John Baugh

Staff Liaison: Margaret Vitullo

Committee Projects/Presentations:

January 2021 Virtual Conference (San Francisco, CA)

Mini-Course Teaching Hybrid and Fully Online, LSA Annual Meeting (Karen Adams, David Bowie, Lynn Burley, Gaillynn Clements, Miranda McCarvel, and Lynn Santelmann) 

January 2019 New York City, NY

Linguistic Discrimination in US Higher Education panel, LSA Annual Meeting (Christina Higgins, Okim Kang, Melinda Reichelt, and Walt Wolfram; Moderator: Gaillynn Clements)

Jan 2011 Roundtable, LSA Annual Meeting

2010 Roundtable, Dept. Chairs, LSA Annual Meeting

2007 Surveys