If, like us, you're excited about spring's arrival and the associated warmer weather and other joys, you may be interested in the National Cherry Blossom Festival's website, which includes (among other things) the Peak Bloom forecast. The first bloom updates should start arriving today, but you can visit their site now to learn more about the festival and celebrations taking place later this month!

Thank you for attending the candidate presentations!

Thank you to those of you who attended the presentations by our faculty candidates this month. We appreciate your time and feedback, and hope that you will have an opportunity to take a class with the selected candidate this fall! If you have any feedback about the candidates and their presentations, please email Dr. Oyen.

Online Conversation: Russia's Invasion of Ukraine

Please join the Departments of Political Science and History at this important online conversation on Wednesday, March 2 (tomorrow) at 2:30pm. Faculty and students will discuss some of the causes of Russia's invasion, as well as its potential consequences. 

Student Fee Forum Friday, March 4, 2pm [online]

The Annual Student Fee Forum takes place this year on Friday, March 4, at 2pm. Learn about the plans for 2022-23 academic year tuition and fees, and share your thoughts or concerns about the proposals with campus leadership. Given the ongoing impact of Covid-19 and other global events, your voice in this conversation is more important than ever. 

All attendees will have the chance to win a $25 giftcard to the Bookstore. 

Join the WebEx event using this link [click here to go to the WebEx meeting].

Save the Date: Author D. Watkins Virtual Event, April 6

Baltimore native D. Watkins will visit campus virtually on Wednesday, April 6, from 4:30-5:30pm, to discuss his book We Speak for Ourselves: How Woke Culture Prohibits Progress. The event is part of this year's UMBC Community Read. Learn more about the Community Read and We Speak for Ourselves at the virtual event's myUMBC page here and at the Community Read group's page here. 

Summer Session Registration Now Open!

Are you thinking about taking a class during Summer Session 2022? Registration is now open! 

Course offerings that may be of interest to ASIA students include: 

• HIST 103 - East Asian Civilization (in-person, Summer II Six Weeks)
• JPNS 102 - Elementary Japanese II (hybrid, Summer II Six Weeks)
• MUSC 230 - Musics of the World (online, Summer I Four Weeks)

If you would like to learn more about summer classes, or have general advising questions, you can email Dr. Oyen or set up a meeting using her Calendly link.

Upcoming Dates and Deadlines

• Tuesday, March 1 (today) - Summer 2022 registration opens!
• Tuesday, March 1 (today) - last day to sign up to get academic credit for a Spring 2022 internship or other research experience
• Wednesday, March 2, 2:30pm (tomorrow) - Russia's invasion of Ukraine online event [see above]
• Friday, March 4, 2pm - Student Fee Forum [online, see above]
• March 20-27: Spring Break!
• Monday, March 28: Fall 2022 Schedule Available

We've probably all tried that hot new word-of-the-day game with the colorful squares. There are several variants of the original recipe, but maybe guessing English words is not enough of a challenge? If regular Wordle has lost its sparkle for you, give this Chinese-language variant a try! 

Learn Classical Chinese or Classical Japanese in Venice This Summer!

If you have at least one year of either Chinese or Japanese language experience, and are interested in studying any aspect of pre-modern China or Japan, take a look at this year's Princeton/Ca' Foscari Classical Chinese and Classical Japanese/Kanbun summer school! Taught by faculty from Princeton and Ca' Foscari Universities, the session takes place in July in central Venice. Students will learn the equivalent of one semester of either language. If you're interested, you can pre-apply on their website by the March 31 deadline.  

Asian Studies Faculty Candidates Visits and Presentations

Thank you to those of you who joined us last week for our first candidate presentation! If you were unable to attend, you still have an opportunity to meet our other two finalists. One of these three candidates will be joining Asian Studies in the fall. Be among the first on campus to hear from them as they answer the question, "What is Asia?" 

All student attendees will receive a t-shirt as well as a boxed lunch (sandwich, chips, fruit, cookie, bottled water) to take away. You are welcome to attend one or both of the remaining sessions. Because seating is limited due to Covid-19, be sure to RSVP on myUMBC if you plan to attend: 

• Friday, February 25, 9:45am Candidate Talk
• Monday, February 28, 11am Candidate Talk

Virtual Career and Internship Fair - This Friday!

More than 100 employers will be waiting to meet you at Friday's Virtual Career and Internship Fair - will you be there? Asian Studies students' language skills and research interests make them appealing candidates for employers in a variety of industries, from the government and non-profits to STEM and healthcare. To sign up, be sure to log into UMBCworks and click 'Attend' in the event's page! The fair will be open from 11:30-3:30 on Friday. 

National Bureau of Asian Research - Diversity Fellowship Info Session This Thursday

The National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR) is hosting an online information session at 3pm on Thursday, February 24, for students interested in applying to their summer Diversity Fellowship. The paid Fellowship begins remotely/virtually in May, and from June to August takes place at NBR's offices in Washington, DC. Students with freshman, sophomore, or junior standing who are interested in international affairs and foreign policy can learn more about the fellowship on NBR's website. The application deadline for the fellowship is March 27.

To RSVP for the online information session, please email Jerome Siangco [jsiangco@nbr.org]. If you are interested but not able to attend, Mr. Siangco is also happy to set up an appointment for an individual Q&A session. 

Upcoming Dates and Deadlines

• Thursday, Feb 24, 3pm: NBR Fellowship Virtual Q&A (see above)
• Friday, Feb 25, 9:45am: Second Faculty Candidate Talk (see above)
• Friday, Feb 25, 11:30am: Virtual Career & Internship Fair (see above)
• Monday, Feb 28, 11am: Third Faculty Candidate Talk (see above)
• March 7: Internship/Independent Study Add-for-Credit Deadline

We hope your classes and semester are off to a great start! Snow is not uncommon here in Maryland in February, but this time last year, the residents of Sapa, Vietnam, enjoyed a rare heavy snowfall just before Tết. If you are hoping for more snow this winter on campus, you can enjoy more photos of this winter wonderland; but if you're ready for spring to arrive, the National Park Service has some good news about Washington, DC's famous springtime pink trees and their slightly earlier late-winter cousins.

Today: Last Day to Apply for Spring 2022 Graduation!

Seniors: are you planning to graduate this semester? Don't forget to apply for graduation! Today is the deadline to submit your application - see the Registrar's website for detailed instructions and additional information.

Asian Studies Faculty Candidate Presentations: "What is Asia?" 

All presentations will take place in Fine Arts 558. Students who attend one or more of these presentations will receive an Asian Studies 10th Anniversary shirt, and a boxed meal (to take away) - one shirt per student, one meal per session. Seating is limited due to Covid-19 policies: please click any of the three dates listed above to RSVP on myUMBC.

Now in its third year, Johns Hopkins University is hosting the virtual Richard Macksey National Undergraduate Research Symposium April 8-10, 2022. This is the first conference of its kind: there has been no other national platform for undergraduates in the humanities to share their work. 

The Macksey Symposium is designed to provide a development opportunity for students that looks toward their future pursuit of the humanities. The 2022 symposium will feature the following: 

For two months of the year, visitors to Harbin in northeast China can brave the -40 degree temperatures to see the Harbin Snow and Ice Festival's sculptures illuminated in spectacular colors at night. Stay cozy and enjoy the sights of the 2019 festival from home with this Smithsonian Magazine article. A little closer to home, (seb) will be hosting iceless ice skating and snow tubing on the Library Plaza on campus this Friday.

Lunar New Year Celebration Continues

We're very excited by the response to our Lunar New Year celebration and our new Asian Studies shirts. If you haven't stopped by our office (Fine Arts 548) yet for New Year treats and a shirt, the event continues today and tomorrow. Although the food giveaway will end tomorrow, Asian Studies students are welcome to pick up a shirt any time this semester.

Spring 2022 Graduation Application Deadline: February 15

If you are planning to graduate this May, be sure to submit your graduation application before next week's deadline! The Registrar's website has everything you need to know. 

URCAD 2022 Applications Are Now Open

UMBC is a campus that recognizes its students' research at all levels; URCAD is the annual celebration of undergraduate research and creative achievements. If you've completed a big research or creative project this year, URCAD is a fantastic opportunity to share your expertise and accomplishments with the campus community and the public. The deadline to apply is February 18. Learn more at URCAD's website. Dr. Oyen is a great resource if you have questions about how to apply. 

Virtual Internship and Career Fair - February 25

The Career Center's popular Internship and Career Fair event will take place virtually later this month. More than 85 employers have already signed up, and they're all eager to meet UMBC students and recent graduates. For more information, and how to sign up to attend, visit the Career Center's website. 

Covid-19 Booster and Flu Shot Clinics - Feb 17 and March 3

If you're able, and haven't yet had a chance to get your seasonal flu vaccine or a Covid-19 booster, Retriever Integrated Health is hosting additional clinics on campus on February 17 (next Thursday) and on March 3 (also a Thursday). You can make an appointment on their website.

Roses are Pink, Chip's Tongue is too; for Valentine's Day, She Wants to See You!

Swing by the RAC on Valentine's Day (Monday next week, Feb 14) to hang out with Officer Chip! She and her entourage will have prize giveaways for all her Valentines, too. Check myUMBC for more information. 

Virtual Involvement Fest - This Week! 

Celebrate Lunar New Year with Us!

There is a lot to celebrate in Asian Studies this spring! Stop by this week or next to pick up a Cup Noodles, an orange, and a fortune cookie, so we can celebrate the new year in a Covid-policy-compliant way. 

We are also celebrating our 10th anniversary at UMBC this year! Asian Studies students are also welcome to pick up an Asian Studies t-shirt when they pick up their Lunar New Year lunch items. 

Check out the myUMBC event page for more information about when and where these giveaways are happening! 

Summer Fellowship with the National Bureau of Asian Research

The National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR) seeks applicants for their four-month Undergraduate Diversity Fellowships. The NBR Undergraduate Diversity Fellowship aims to extend educational, professional, and mentorship opportunities to Black and brown students who are interested in pursuing a career in the field of international affairs or Asia policy. 

Fellows will receive mentorship and professional experience as they work full-time on-site at NBR's offices in Washington, DC, throughout the summer. For detailed information about the fellowship, visit NBR's website.

The deadline to submit your application is March 27, 2022, at 11:59pm EST. 

KAA-Pony Chung Foundation Korea-America Essay Prize Competition - Top Prize $10,000!

Have you written a great essay about Korea-U.S. diplomacy, security, or economic policy? The KAA-Pony Chung Foundation wants you to submit it to their competition. Three winners will receive cash prizes ($10,000, $5,000, $1,000). Any undergraduate student with Korean or American citizenship is eligible to apply. 

The deadline to submit your essay and the other application materials is March 30, 2022, and prize announcements will be made in mid-April. Detailed submission and eligibility information is available on the Korean-American Association's website. 

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Lunar New Year is coming! The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York is hosting a festival this weekend to celebrate, with a day of special programming available for free online! See the schedule on their website for more information. 

Do you need to register for Spring 2022 classes?

Do you need to register for Spring 2022 classes?

Spring 2022 advising and registration is still available! Students must have registration clearance from their advisor before they can add classes to their schedule. Asian Studies students can be advised by Dr. Oyen - fill out the Google form on this page first. At your advising appointment, you and Dr. Oyen can discuss your plans for Spring 2022 and beyond. 

For additional information about how to sign up for classes for Spring 2022, visit our website's registration guide. 

Planning to study abroad next year? Apply for a scholarship!

If you have been accepted to a study abroad program that starts between May 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023, consider applying for a Phi Kappa Phi Study Abroad Grant! This $1,000 award is available to undergraduate students who have a minimum 3.75 GPA. Applicants do not need to be initiated members of their chapter to be eligible. Find out more about the program on the Phi Kappa Phi website - the deadline to apply is March 15, 2022. 

UMBC's Education Abroad Office is also hosting an online info session about the Benjamin A. Gilman scholarship: the award offers up to $8,000 to support students who have received a Pell Grant and want to pursue a study abroad program. The information session will take place on February 8, 2022. The deadline to apply for the scholarship is March 8, 2022. Learn more and register for the information session at the link above. 

Online Summer Language Intensives at the University of Indiana - Catch Up, Get Ahead, or Try Something New

Want to improve your language skills, but don't have space in your Spring and Fall schedules? Want to explore a new language outside of what you're studying at UMBC? The University of Indiana offers a variety of summer intensive programs in Asian languages in online or hybrid formats, giving you an opportunity to gain intermediate or higher ability in a language in just a few months. 

Available languages include Japanese (introductory level), Korean (introductory and intermediate level), and Chinese (introductory through advanced level), as well as opportunities in Burmese, Vietnamese, and central Asian languages such as Mongolian, Uzbek, Kyrgyz, Tatar, and Pashto. 

Funding is available for these summer programs and any student is eligible to apply. 

Each program is slightly different, so if you are interested, check out the workshop's informational website to learn more! The deadline to apply is January 29, 2022. 

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Congratulations to our Fall 2021 Asian Studies Graduates!

Asian Studies is celebrating our newest alumni this week, as five of our majors and two of our certificate-seekers graduate!

Please join us in congratulating the following students on their newly-awarded B.A. in Asian Studies:

• Claire Brocato
• Kellie Carswell
• Sibgha Khursheed
• Ian Kibria
• Jade Reinholtz