ASIANetwork Initiative Groups

The ASIANetwork Board of Directors has launched a new opportunity for faculty from member colleges: receive support to develop programming that will benefit colleagues, students, and institutions. You are invited to propose an “ASIANetwork Initiative” and lead a group serving undergraduate and liberal arts education about Asia.

  • Is there an underserved area of Asian or Asian diasporic studies in need of further attention?
  • Is there a pedagogical approach or new technology that you would like to further explore and share with a larger audience?
  • Is there an area of professional development that would benefit educators in the field?

ASIANetwork welcomes your participation!

Please contact the Executive Director of ASIANetwork with any questions.

Guidelines

The Board of Directors, in fostering Initiative Groups, aims to enrich programming and add value to the ASIANetwork consortium for members and external audiences. ASIANetwork provides financial and administrative support, along with a reporting structure that facilitates communication. Group leaders and members are encouraged to pursue their interests and share outcomes through the network. The Group leader receives a fund of $1,000 per year that may be used to support Group activities and stipends. 

 

A one-page proposal to form a group should be submitted to the Executive Director, with preference given to proposals received by August 15 for approval at the ASIANetwork Board of Directors Meeting, September 12, 2026. Proposals should address the following:

 

  • The name and purpose of the Group

  • The intended leader and possible participants in the Group

  • A brief explanation and tentative timeline detailing which of the following activities the Group plans to pursue in the year ahead. 

 

Each Group is expected to hold regular Group meetings, to create one or more roundtables or panels for the annual conference and to carry out at least two of the following activities during the year (a-d):

a. Write a concept paper seeking grant funding for a new program. Executive Committee will facilitate discussion with the Future Projects Committee and the Development Committee of the Board. 

b. Host an online seminar, workshop, or series, or a reading group, or another curriculum or scholarly development focused event, or a unique workshop before or after the annual conference.

c. Prepare a special edited issue of the ASIANetwork Exchange, or a prospectus for the ASIANetwork Book Series, or a series of articles and resources for the ASIANetwork website.

d. Carry out another project of your choosing.

 

A one-to-two-page report summarizing the Group’s activities and plans to that point should be submitted by September 1 and March 15 (exact dates may vary by year, to be communicated by Executive Director). Reports must address the following:

  • Name and purpose of the Group, name of leader and list of participants.

  • Progress toward goals.

  • Timeline of activities pursued and plans.

  • (Spring report only)  Indications of plans to renew the Group for another year, and if so, details about plans for the coming year.

  • As an attachment, include photos, videos, transcripts, documents (draft or final), manuscripts, syllabi, web links, reading lists and annotated bibliographies, etc., that come from your work of the past year.