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SPANISH AND LATIN AMERICAN NETWORK
| Welcome
to SALA The SALA Network was initiated under the 2000-2002 LEQSF/BoRSF enhancement grant to the Department of Modern Languages at UL Lafayette. Its primary goal is to support and promote cross disciplinary research and teaching on the Hispanic World at UL Lafayette. SALA arranges lectures and other activities, maintains a web directory, and promotes study abroad. People Faculty active in Spanish and Latin American Studies include Leslie Bary (Modern Languages), Julia Frederick (Honors), Francisco García-Rubio (Modern Languages), Mark Lentz (History and Geography), and Richard Winters (Modern Languages). All members of the LAS Faculty are affiliated with the SALA Network, and the entire Spanish Faculty works closely with SALA. Student Research and Service Learning One of SALA's original aims was to promote undergraduate as well as graduate level research experience. Students engaged in individual or group projects gain hands-on experience in bibliographic research, project design, evaluation and organization of documents, academic writing, grant writing, web design, and educational technology, while at the same time deepening their knowledge of the topic that was their focus. Some students undertake these projects as McNair Fellows, and most departments now have a 497 course number to use for independent projects. Recent student research has also included postbaccalaureate work in Anthropology at the Proyecto Salinas de los Nueve Cerros in Alta Verapaz, Guatemala, under the direction of Dr. Brent Woodfill, as well as capstone projects in the Honors Program. Ongoing service learning projects include literacy volunteering with the Hispanic community through the city's VITA program; expansion of service learning opportunities is projected for the near future. Also in the planning stages is a major in Latin American Studies, which will include a capstone experience. Students interested in undertaking Honors, McNair or service learning projects should discuss options with the faculty member with whom they would like to work. |