Educator Funding

The Kansas African Studies Center, one of ten National Resource Centers for African Studies, has funding opportunities available for educators from K-12 schools, minority-serving institutions, and community colleges to attend the KU Summer African Language Institute.

The Kansas African Studies Center offers free tuition and stipends of $3000 for educators at K-12 schools, minority-serving institutions, and community colleges to attend the Virtual Summer African Language Institute (SALI). The KU Department of African and African-American Studies hosts SALI annually from June to July and offers an entire academic year of language instruction in an intensive, 8-week online synchronous course. Small class sizes allow for maximum individual attention from native speakers trained in language education in a fun and relaxed environment. Courses are taught through the Department of African and African-American Studies.

Courses will be taught remotely:

Elementary Arabic 110 & 120                      Intermediate Arabic 210 & 220

Elementary Kiswahili 110 & 120                  Intermediate Kiswahili 210 & 220

Elementary Wolof 110 & 120                       Intermediate Wolof 210 & 220              

 

For more information regarding these languages, visit our Summer African Language Institute page.

 

Several stipends of $3,000 each for teachers will be awarded. Classes at the beginner level are 10 credits split between two summer sessions, while classes at the intermediate level are 6 credits split between two summer sessions. 

 

To apply:

 

Submit a statement of no more than 500-words that addresses the following:

  • School Details: name, school, location, and subject/level taught, description of student body
  • Desired language of study and level (Beginner, Intermediate), explanation of why you wish to learn this language
  • What outcomes do you expect from the Institute and how will language acquisition of an African language help you in your role as an educator?
  • How do you intend to incorporate the language into your curriculum or other professional duties? 
  • Provide any other relevant information if space allows

 

Send questions, and your statement (in a Word document) to KASC Assistant Director, Doreen M. Siilo, dsiilo@ku.edu. Please contact her with any questions as well. Application deadline is Monday, April 11th  2025.