Elon’s German Studies program earned designation as Center of Excellence

Elon’s German Studies program has been named a Center of Excellence by the American Association of Teachers of German.

The designation honors well-established and growing German programs with excellent instruction and strong support from administrators, colleagues, alumni and students.

The evaluation criteria include program vitality, faculty excellence, dynamic teaching, student engagement, and connections beyond the classroom. The application process included a comprehensive overview covering all areas of the program and letters of support. It was developed over the course of a year by the German Studies advisory board, a group of 16 faculty and staff members across four schools, 10academic departments, and three staff units. The application was also supported by administrators in Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences and the Department of World Languages and Cultures.

Founded in 1926, the AATG “champions the belief that bringing the diverse cultures of the German-speaking world to Americans is a vital humanistic endeavor that serves essential national and global interests.”

“The award is, first and foremost, a recognition of the achievements of our students and alumni who have used their German – alongside the other knowledge and abilities they gained at Elon – to make a big impact on the world,” said Professor Scott Windham, co-coordinator of the German Studies program. “The designation also shows that Elon’s investment in language study has paid off. Students know they’re in a dynamic, top-ranked program where high levels of achievement are the norm.”

The Elon program’s vision and mission focus on community, supporting and challenging students, and integrating their career interests from day one.

“German at Elon has bucked national trends and seen significant growth in recent years thanks to intentional community building, curricular flexibility, dedicated faculty, engaged students, a productive board and visible cross-disciplinary and administrative support,” said Associate Professor Elena Schoonmaker-Gates, chair of the Department of World Languages and Cultures and associate professor of Spanish. “This recognition is further evidence of the vitality and excellence of Elon’s world-class German program.”

Colleagues on the German Studies advisory board and in the Department of World Languages and Cultures have helped develop the program through curriculum, teaching approaches and conversations about the role of German language and cultural study in the 21st century.

“Having our German Studies program be recognized as a Center of Excellence is a great achievement and one that is well deserved,” said Hilton Kelly, dean of Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences. “We are proud of the legacy of German language, literature, history and culture at Elon.”

Beyond the curriculum, students in the program make lifelong connections and develop a strong sense of community.

“The students consistently praise the sense of community in the program,” said Associate Professor Kristin Lange, co-coordinator of German Studies and associate chair of the Department of World Languages and Cultures at Elon. “The German Club is a huge part of our community by hosting weekly study sessions and social events. We are also proud of our study abroad programs, with four destinations in Germany. By the time students head for Germany, they are well prepared for their semester abroad.”

Elon is the only university in North Carolina to receive the Center of Excellence designation.

“The Center of Excellence designation is a well-earned recognition of the faculty and staff members who have championed this program and built a space for our students to engage with German language, history, culture, art and more,” said Rebecca Kohn, provost and vice president of academic affairs and professor of biology. “It also sets a broader institutional commitment to modern language study that sets Elon apart.

“I remember what it meant to me as an undergraduate student, studying a new language and immersing myself in an unfamiliar country. Those experiences changed how I understood my own place in the world. This same transformation is available to our students through the work of our faculty and staff members, and the recognition as a Center of Excellence is a direct reflection of their dedication.”

A virtual awards ceremony will be hosted by AATG on Nov. 8 from 12-1:30 p.m. The ceremony is open to faculty, staff, administration, students, alumni and families of the program. Roughly a month prior to the AATG ceremony, German Studies will celebrate another milestone: the 20th anniversary of the creation of the German Studies minor, representing the moment when interdisciplinary German Studies took shape at Elon. That in-person ceremony will take place Monday, Oct. 5, at 3:30 p.m. at Scott Plaza (rain location Carlton Commons).

The first German course was offered at Elon in 1890. The German Studies minor was founded in 2006, and the interdisciplinary German Studies advisory board was established in 2011. The first German Studies major graduated in 2019 after creating her own independent major.

“The AATG is the largest organization for German educators and German programs,” Lange said. “This makes the Center of Excellence especially significant, because it’s awarded by German educators to German educators.”