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MSU hall to focus on American Sign Language
Michigan State University will offer its students a distinctive learning experience this fall with the introduction of its American Sign Language Living-Learning option.
The campus's recently-renovated Snyder-Phillips Hall has been designated by the university to house students where the primary means of communication will be American Sign Language.
The university's efforts won't just extend to students who live in the hall. The building will also be the site of several educational and cultural events directed toward the deaf community.
The building's new renovations, completed before the start of the fall 2007 semester, including a multimedia room and three-story cafeteria. The recent additions are considered to be beneficial accommodations for the ASL program because of the open, visually-compliant structure.
The university said they will reserve a limited amount of rooms, in both the men's and women's section, that will be equipped with visual alerting systems.
The university said its main goal is to foster an environment where deaf students, those hard of hearing and those studying the language can meet to learn from each other.
Students from all class levels and majors may apply. However, students must have a basic ability and commitment to communicate in ASL.
According to MSU, the living option will be the only one among Michigan public universities. MSU and Eastern Michigan University are the only two universities in Michigan to offer a deaf education degree at all levels.
"This shows how MSU is different, that we are committed to excellence by recognizing not only the need to give students the skills to become signing competent, but to introduce them into the deaf cultural," said Harold Johnson, professor of special education, who specializes in deaf education.
"It is equally important that we provide this for the deaf community, that we welcome them to campus and are supportive of their needs."
According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, ASL is in the top five languages spoken in the U.S. Despite its popularity, the university said they felt there were not enough available options for students to immerse themselves in the language.
"Learning in the classroom is, of course, crucial, but it is not enough. You need to be communicatively competent by living within the daily world of those who are deaf," said Johnson.
"This gives us a cultural and linguistic setting that will welcome individuals who sign and allow students to develop their ASL skills above and beyond what can be done through coursework."
According to the university's statement, the ASL residential program grew out of a partnership between faculty from the colleges of Communication Arts and Sciences, and Education and Social Science. Additional recommendations and goals were given by students.
Johnson said feedback on the program from educators around the state has been very positive
"I'm confident. The program is different, very logical if you think about it, but different," he said.
New and returning students interested in this housing option should contact coordinator Marta Belsky at belsky@msu.edu. Current on-campus residents who would like to apply should contact Belsky no later than Jan. 30.
Michigan State University will offer its students a distinctive learning experience this fall with the introduction of its American Sign Language Living-Learning option.
The campus's recently-renovated Snyder-Phillips Hall has been designated by the university to house students where the primary means of communication will be American Sign Language.
The university's efforts won't just extend to students who live in the hall. The building will also be the site of several educational and cultural events directed toward the deaf community.
The building's new renovations, completed before the start of the fall 2007 semester, including a multimedia room and three-story cafeteria. The recent additions are considered to be beneficial accommodations for the ASL program because of the open, visually-compliant structure.
The university said they will reserve a limited amount of rooms, in both the men's and women's section, that will be equipped with visual alerting systems.
The university said its main goal is to foster an environment where deaf students, those hard of hearing and those studying the language can meet to learn from each other.
Students from all class levels and majors may apply. However, students must have a basic ability and commitment to communicate in ASL.
According to MSU, the living option will be the only one among Michigan public universities. MSU and Eastern Michigan University are the only two universities in Michigan to offer a deaf education degree at all levels.
"This shows how MSU is different, that we are committed to excellence by recognizing not only the need to give students the skills to become signing competent, but to introduce them into the deaf cultural," said Harold Johnson, professor of special education, who specializes in deaf education.
"It is equally important that we provide this for the deaf community, that we welcome them to campus and are supportive of their needs."
According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, ASL is in the top five languages spoken in the U.S. Despite its popularity, the university said they felt there were not enough available options for students to immerse themselves in the language.
"Learning in the classroom is, of course, crucial, but it is not enough. You need to be communicatively competent by living within the daily world of those who are deaf," said Johnson.
"This gives us a cultural and linguistic setting that will welcome individuals who sign and allow students to develop their ASL skills above and beyond what can be done through coursework."
According to the university's statement, the ASL residential program grew out of a partnership between faculty from the colleges of Communication Arts and Sciences, and Education and Social Science. Additional recommendations and goals were given by students.
Johnson said feedback on the program from educators around the state has been very positive
"I'm confident. The program is different, very logical if you think about it, but different," he said.
New and returning students interested in this housing option should contact coordinator Marta Belsky at belsky@msu.edu. Current on-campus residents who would like to apply should contact Belsky no later than Jan. 30.
