The University of British Columbia is pleased to announce the creation of the Asian Canadian Asian Migration Studies Minor during the recognition of Asian Heritage Month in Canada and Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in the United States.
As part of the University’s tribute to honour the UBC Japanese Canadian students of 1942, the Dean of Arts announced in March 2012 that an Asian Canadian Minor program would be created and launched to accept its first students in September 2014.
Consultation processes that involved many individuals from the Asian Canadian and UBC communities were initiated and conducted over a 12-month period. The feedback and advice received encouraged the University to envision a more comprehensive program beyond the scope originally conceived.
In order to build a comprehensive program in stages, the University’s first step was to establish an Asian Canadian Asian Migrations Studies minor program.
As an undergraduate teaching program, this educational program will both meet the commitment made by UBC Senate in November 2011 and by the Dean of Arts in March 2012, and serve as the foundation for the building and expansion of community engagement, public education, and research initiatives identified during the community consultations in 2013. The Faculty of Arts unanimously approved the new minor in December 2013, and the proposal was successfully brought to UBC Senate for approval in the beginning of 2014.
Dr. Chris Lee, Associate Professor in the Department of English and Associate Principal of Community Engagement for St. John’s College, has recently been appointed Director of the program. Dr. Lee will be responsible for continued communications, consultation and development with the community to shape the Asian Canadian and Asian Migrations Program in its next phases, as well as an Advisory Committee to guide its expansion.
The University is committed to ensuring an Asian Canadian and Asian Migrations Minor program that will be a model within the post-secondary community and is grateful for the continued support and involvement of Asian Canadian communities to achieve that goal.
During Asian Heritage Month, UBC also sponsored the Komagata Maru Project, which recognizes the 100th Anniversary of the “Komagata Maru”, which carried 376 South Asian would-be immigrants to Canada that was turned away from Vancouver.
More information about the registration into the program is available at the UBC Academic Calendar.