Contact: David West (west@alpha.nsula.edu )
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466

12/6/2001

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES-Northwestern State University has been accepted for membership in the Intercollegiate Center for Classical Studies in Rome (ICCS) consortium. NSU will also become the initial consortial representative for the Classical Consortium of the Louisiana University System which will include McNeese State University and the University of Louisiana at Monroe, according to Dr. Jean D'Amato-Thomas, a professor of classics in the Louisiana Scholars' College at Northwestern.

ICCS was established in 1965 by representatives of 10 American colleges and universities. The center provides undergraduate students with an opportunity to study Greek and Latin literature, ancient history and archaeology and ancient art in Rome. More than 80 U.S. colleges and universities are members of ICCS. Administration of the Intercollegiate Center is handled by Duke University's Office of Study Abroad.

Member institutions include Harvard, Yale, Stanford, The University of Michigan and the University of Virginia.

"Students at Northwestern who are interested in classical studies can take advantage of an opportunity to add another dimension to their educational experience," said D'Amato-Thomas, who was a teaching assistant with ICCS in 1973 and directed the program in 1981-82. "Our students will have exposure to materials they would not have had otherwise. They will have the chance to study another country with the 'movers and shakers' in the field who are publishing material and are active in undergraduate teaching."

Students will also have the opportunity to study art, music and European, especially Italian history and language.

"ICCS draws students from a wide range of institutions from prestigious universities such as Harvard to small public universities and colleges," said D'Amato-Thomas.

She said participating students from Northwestern will find they are on a level with students from any other college or university.

"They will have a chance to develop intellectual camaraderie with students from all over the country. And they will find that they can match anyone in terms of intellectual ability," said D'Amato-Thomas. "They will be taught by the best faculty and will be able to evaluate themselves in a more balanced way."

The Rome Center operates two terms each academic year, one from early September to mid-December, the other from late January to the end of May. Each term allows about 15 weeks of instruction and provides one full term's academic credit. Students live and study in a four-story building on one of the main streets of the Janiculum.

Students may be eligible for financial aid or scholarships to cover some of the costs of the program. Additional funds are also available for minority students.

For more information on ICCS, contact D'Amato at (318) 357-4539 or at damato@nsula.edu.

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