The Institute for US-China Issues at the University of Oklahoma was established in August 2006 with the generous financial support of Harold J. & Ruth Newman, who endowed a chair for its first director. The Institute has two primary goals. First, the Newman Institute engages in and supports research and outreach activities that seek to better understand and improve US-China relations. The focus is on the deeper structure of the bilateral relationship: its dynamics of security and insecurity, perception and misperception, identity and power. The Institute promotes academic research that has policy relevant implications, and seeks to have an impact on the broader national debate on US China policy.

Second, the OU Institute for US-China Issues seeks to promote China studies in the state of Oklahoma. This begins with promoting Chinese language training at the K-12 and university levels, but also includes the broad interdisciplinary study of China. The Institute particularly seeks to strengthen the China studies faculty and curriculum at OU. A strong interdisciplinary knowledge of China is the starting point for improving US-China relations.

In addition to sponsoring lectures and colloquia, the Institute convenes an annual symposium that brings together a broad array of academic, think tank, government, and business leaders to discus specific security concerns in US-China relations. It also plans to host visiting scholars and postdoctoral fellows, and to facilitate the visits of Chinese delegations and other China-related activities on campus. Together with the Ford Foundation, the Institute also sponsors and organizes the Sino-American Security Dialogue, a forum for informal but sustained interaction among the new generation of Chinese and American security analysts.

European Union Center at OU: The Center is housed within the School of International and Area Studies. The mission of the European Union Center is to advance knowledge of the European Union and deepen understanding of US-EU relations throughout the Southwestern United States. Learn more about the Center's specific objectives, programs and upcoming events and activities by clicking on the EU Center link above.

Oklahoma Institute for Teaching East Asia is an outreach program that promotes the teaching and study of Asia in middle and secondary school courses devoted to world history, world cultures, or world geography. OKITEA also provides teachers with an enriched background on Chinese, Japanese and Korean classical traditions, modern history and contemporary issues. Visit the OKITEA website for more information about the program, seminars and field study opportunities.

GOVERNANCE is an international journal devoted to the study of executive politics, public policy, administration and the organization of the state. Papers that adopt a comparative perspective are of particular interest. The editors welcome articles employing any methodological approach that addresses themes of relevance to these topics. Articles addressing specific events, policies, politicians or structures must have some general theoretical significance. The editors strongly encourage civil servants and politicians as well as academics to submit articles that meet this criterion. The editors are Dr. Robert H. Cox (University of Oklahoma) and Dr. Graham Wilson (University of Wisconsin-Madison). Please click on the Governance link above for more information.

South Central Modern Languages Association (SCMLA) is an educational and nonprofit organization committed to promoting the scholarly interests of its members. The association has over 1700 members with an annual convention program of more than 400 papers presented in 112 Regular, Special, and Allied sessions. It is one of the six regional Modern Language Associations in the United States and is affiliated with the Modern Language Association of America. Primarily, the SCMLA represents professors at universities and colleges in the south central region of the United States. The association will transfer from Texas A&M University to the University of Oklahoma campus in January 2005. If you would like to learn more about the association before the transfer takes place, please visit the Texas A&M website at http://scmla.tamu.edu.