Letter to Leo Jenkins from Kermit King

This is a letter from Kermit King, advisor on International Education, to Leo Jenkins. Dr. King came to ECU as a consultant from the State Department's Agency of International Development. He spent 18 months at ECU providing the foundation for establishing the international studies program. This letter is a summary of his accomplishments while working at East Carolina. Names of some individuals have been edited from this on-line version of the letter. This and other documents may be found in the University Archives.

Citation for this letter: Letter to Leo Jenkins from Kermit King, June 25, 1973.UW0000, Series 1, Personnel File.

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June 25, 1973

Dr. Leo W. Jenkins
Chancellor
East Carolina University
Greenville, NC 27834

Dear. Dr. Jenkins:

With termination of the Intergovernmental Personnel Agreement between the Department of State (A.I.D.) and East Carolina University (ECU) for my services at ECU in the field of International Education, I wish to express to you, to my colleagues on the faculty and staff and to the Board of Trustees, my sincere appreciation for having had the opportunity to serve at East Carolina University.

Throughout my tenure of 18 months, my colleagues and I strove to advance the goals held by the University for the improvement of international education planning and activity. My services as an Advisor were given the utmost attention and consideration by the various coordinators of world area study committees and the administrators and faculty members whom I contacted. I feel that what we accomplished was significant and trust that my efforts will leave a lasting impression on the University.

At this time, I will summarize briefly the activities to which it was my pleasure to provide technical assistance.

1. Planning for the ECU Center of International Studies and Education
Establishment of an international center at East Carolina University is a long-range goal of ECU. This Center once functioning could also serve the best interests of the associated universities and colleges of North Carolina.I coordinated ideas held for the Center and prepared basic plans and a project proposal for establishment of a center in Eastern North Carolina.

The project embraced those aspects of a program of international education held to be feasible and within the capability and resources of the University at a time when it is seeking expansion and growth in a number of priority areas, e.g., a Medical School.

Ability to fund recommended activities was held to be a main concern.The project proposal prepared by me suggested several levels of funding this hinging on the availability and extent of funds secured for the program.

2. Fund Raising Activities
During the first months of my tenure, in collaboration with the energetic Vice Chancellor for External Affairs, John A. Lang, Jr., I prepared a project proposal for presentation to potential donors of the envisioned International Center.

The Chancellor of ECU and I visited the representative of an alleged wealthy potential donor in New York City. All pertinent data and information were left with him for subsequent presentation to his client. Up to this time, the proposal for an international center at ECU has not been turned down by the donor.I trust that this effort on our part will have been fruitful and productive some time in the future.

As a member of the Advisory Committee of the North Carolina Commission on International Education, it was my privilege to present project proposals to the Commission for the funding of international conferences and symposia at ECU.The proposals I prepared and submitted to the Commission, in collaboration with Vice Chancellor Lang, yielded the University in 1973, a total of $8,200 for the support of conferences advancing the Commission's goals for international trade and cooperation.

3. First Director of the Office of International Education Established in January 1972.
Shortly after my arrival at ECU, the authorities accepted my suggestions that an Office of International Education be established.It was also agreed that I as technical advisor to the University in this field should serve as Professor and Director of the Office. Appropriate stationery, an office, secretary, etc., were provided along with a small operations budget.The Office was lodged under the Office of the Provost.I was enabled to provide many badly needed services to ECU area studies coordinators, to students and faculty members and to people in the community in the area of international concern and interest.

Some funds were also provided for us to organize modestly but systematically for an annual symposium in each world study area, exhibits or other activities calculated to advance the theme of internationalism at ECU.Under the banner of the Office of International Education, the work of the University in this sphere was reported to a wide cross section of outside entities interested in ECU international education activity.

4. Symposia and Conferences.
I was very closely associated with the planning and conduct of the yearly smposia program sponsored by ECU's four world area studies committees. I attended virtually all of their committee meetings at which symposia were discussed and cooperated fully with chairmen and members in bringing conferences scheduled to a successful conclusion. I participated as a lecturer or panel moderator in seven symposiums held at the University.

These programs were increasingly popular and were well attended by students and faculty members.

The Afro-Asian Symposium held in May 1973, was sponsored by the NC Commission on International Cooperation and was planned, directed and conducted with the assistance of members of the Pitt County Community. Several sessions of the Symposium were held at facilities donated by members of the Greenville community. All sessions of this were well attended by people from the community.

5. The First African Studies Institute, Summer of 1972.
It was my pleasure to participate in planning the first African Studies Institute held at ECU, and to serve as Professor of African Studies and Consultant during the Institute. The Institute was comprosed of a first summer session and follow-up workshops on African Studies designed to prepare public school teachers for effective teaching of the humanities. The participants included thirty public school teachers who enrolled for credit as graduates students or to complete their accreditation requirements. Participants were selected in consultation with the Division of Social Sciences of the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. I took a principal part in all key phases of the Institute in support of the Coordinator and the Committee for African Studies.

6.Overseas Programs.
I have worked with the University authorities in the development of the ECU program of overseas centers. I was instrumental in bringing the Office of International Education into close contact with the American Association of State College and Universities (AASCU) international programs, first with the Mexican International Center in Puebla, Mexico and with the Center in Rome, Italy.During the summer of 1972, in August, I made and official visit to the AASCU Center in Puebla, Mexico, and made arrangements with the University officials there (at the Universidad de las Americas - U.A.) for ECU students to attend the Center.

During the Fall of 1973, over 20 ECU students are expected to attend the AASCU International Center in Mexico; 19 students have enrolled for the program in Rome, Italy.

The long-awaited opening of an ECU/Japan overseas study center will also take place.Beginning in September 1973, 10 ECU students will take the Asian Studies program at the Kansai University of Foreign Studies, Osaka, Japan. One ECU faculty person will accompany the students to Japan.One exchange faculty member from Kansai University will offer course work at ECU.I was closely associated with the Provost of the University in bringing this ECU program for Japan to fruition.

I have also engaged in many other rewarding professional experiences while at ECU, including: addressing academic groups such as the N.C. Association of Academic Deans at their 1972 meeting in Wilmington, NC; civic groups such as the Greenville Kiwanis Club; various church gatherings; fraternity and sorority groups; TV-costs for symposia adn conference publicity.

I also carried a full office program of consultation with students concerning overseas study. Essential, also, was the responsibility to represent the University on international matters involving the Office of International Education, preparing publicity and other materials such as program announcements and brochures, compiling data for the 1972 and 1973 ECU catalog, completing surveys for international entities with which the University is associated, and participating in faculty and staff meetings throughout my tenure.

This report shows evidence of 18 very busy months at the University, however, I considered the time very well spent. The friendships and associations generated will never be forgotten.

I believe that under your dynamic leadership a strong spirit of cooperation and understanding exists among all concerned for the continued progress of international education. A genuine conviction is held here that it is an important dimension of education that should be supported.As a result, ECU's commitment to international education has become meaningful in the lives of the University family. A sharing of its benefits is also being extended to the community in Eastern North Carolina.I am fortunate to have had a part in the educational process at ECU.

In the future should I be in position to assist ECU in any way, it will be my pleasure to do so.

Sincerely,

Kermit C. King