Memorandum

To: Dr. Linda Hanson

From: Carrie Ommen
Date: March 15, 2015
Subject: Feasibility Proposal to Add More Foreign Language Classes at Hamline University
Purpose
In this proposal, I ask permission to research the feasibility of adding more foreign language
courses at Hamline University. I then plan to write a report of my findings to be submitted no
later than April 26, 2015.
Summary
Despite an increase in demand for foreign language communication and multicultural studies,
Hamline University has only four foreign language course offerings, the majority of which do
not extend above an intermediate level to meet proficiency, minor, and major requirements.
Students who must meet the aforementioned requirements are often forced to look at off-campus
programs to satisfy curriculum standards and petition upon completion to Hamline for outside
institution credit.
I propose for this reason that I be allowed to research the feasibility of adding on to existing
foreign language programs as well as adding new programs at the university. Given my
parameters, I plan to research student interest in existing and new programs, financial and spatial
support that must be met with any additions, and the accessibility of outside programs in
comparison to those that could be offered at Hamline.
Introduction
Hamline University has four foreign language course offerings during spring semester 2015
including Spanish, Chinese, German, and French. With the gradual process of phasing out the
French program, the number offered will soon shrink down to three, and only Spanish courses
reach beyond an intermediate level (Hamline University 2015).
Numerous majors require proficiency in a language other than English, yet the majority of
programs above either barely allow students to meet the proficiency requirement or require
additional classes that are not offered at the university. This can create difficulty for students who
would like to continue the study of previously taken languages which are not offered at Hamline,
as well as for those who can start their language of choice, but not meet major, minor, or
proficiency requirements without having to arrange classes at another school in the area and
petition for accepted credit.
Hamline has well-established goals in creating students who can enter the world after their
education with tools to create a diverse and collaborative community of learners dedicated to the
development of students' knowledge, values, and skills for successful lives of leadership,
scholarship, and service, which includes allowing students greater opportunity to develop
multicultural competency in both local and global contexts (Hamline University 2014). A great
way to expand upon these ideals would be the addition of foreign language studies, given that

each language has its own cultural and grammatical isms that allow expansion of student
knowledge.
For this reason, I ask permission to research the feasibility of adding more foreign language
course offerings at Hamline, both in adding to existing programs and in adding new programs.
My research would involve exploring costs of hiring additional faculty for the courses, both fulland part-time; benefits to university students who studied foreign languages and appeal to
current and potential students with offerings of less commonly instructed languages will be
addressed, as well. Other aspects to be researched in my report include the interest of students,
the availability of classroom space and financial resource, and the accessibility to study a foreign
language through the Associated Colleges of the Twin Cities (ACTC) program.
In the following sections, I will outline completed research, research to be done in the future,
criteria for research evaluation and recommendation, and a schedule for the completion of each
of these steps.
Proposed Procedure
This section includes research I have already completed, as well as research that I will continue
to do as the project progresses. Evaluation criteria for my study following the completion of my
research is also included.
Completed Research

I have completed research regarding benefits to students who participate in

foreign language studies, citing three different academic sources.
I have completed research regarding pertinence of additional foreign
language classes in accordance with Hamline Universitys mission and
value statements.
I have completed research to determine average full- and part-time
university foreign language staff.
I have researched the petition process for foreign language credit
acceptance at Hamline University to satisfy proficiency requirements.

Future Research

I will create a simple questionnaire for primary research to be distributed

to my classmates, largely determining interest in additional foreign
language course and their perception of experiences with the ACTC
system, if they have participated in it.
I plan to speak with department chairs in each existing foreign language
department to determine whether they would support additional courses.
I will pursue contact specifically with Hamlines German department as
they can provide insight into the intricacies of hiring with their current
experience of searching for new faculty.
I will research potential classroom space available for additional classes to
be held.

I will continue to search for sources and personal opinions on the

importance of adding more language courses to our curriculum at Hamline
University.

Evaluation Criteria

Is there student interest in additional foreign language course offerings?

Is Hamline University capable of financially and spatially supporting
additional programs for foreign language?
Can a given language be found in an accessible ACTC or other local
university program?

Qualifications and Experience

I am a second year at Hamline University with senior standing and a 3.5 GPA. I have been in six
college-level writing courses, four of which were research-centered writing-intensive classes and
one of which was research- and writing-intensive in French at Macalester College. I am an
undecided business major looking into either Accounting or International Business with minors
and French and Education who is passionate about multicultural education and maintain two oncampus jobs and an off-campus occupation while pursuing my studies.
Submission Schedule
Task
Feasibility Survey
Progress Report
Feasibility Graphics
Rough Draft
Final Report

Date of Completion
March 22, 2015
March 29, 2015
April 5, 2015
April 12, 2015
April 26, 2015