With the support of a second Title VI National Resource Center grant, the Latin American and Caribbean Studies Institute (LACSI) of the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences continues to expand its research, education, and outreach initiatives related to Latin America and the Caribbean. Other programs and LACSI faculty affiliates advance research, education, and advocacy on and on behalf of U.S. Latinx communities. LACSI’s more than 200 faculty affiliates represent all of UGA’s colleges and professional schools, with several jointly-appointed faculty who teach the Institute's core curriculum.
Through the nation's first Portuguese Flagship Program and a Title VI Foreign Language and Area Studies grant, LACSI supports thriving Portuguese language and growing Quechua language programs, funding on-campus study and study abroad opportunities for students of less commonly taught Latin American languages.
Consider participating in one of the Initiatives, or supporting the vital work being done through them. Please explore our website, subscribe to our newsletter, and contact us to share your ideas of how we might work together. We look forward to hearing from you!
Our Mission Statement
Latin American and Caribbean Studies (LACS) is an interdisciplinary program within the College of Franklin Arts and Sciences. The LACS academic programs are all broad-based and multidisciplinary, offering students a comprehensive perspective on the region and opportunities to explore targeted areas of interest.
The Latin American and Caribbean region has had major social, cultural, political, and economic impact on the United States. This influence has increased exponentially over the last decade, especially in the state of Georgia. Establishing in-depth understandings of the region and its peoples, including those who have come to the United States from those regions and their descendants, has become crucially important in the state, and the challenge will likely grow in coming decades. LACSI’s primary mission is to address this need by promoting research, education, and service and outreach on Latin America, the Caribbean, and US Latinos. In order to achieve this goal, LACSI shall:
- Coordinate and administer undergraduate and graduate degree programs in support of and in collaboration with the disciplinary and multidisciplinary interests of LACSI’s faculty;
- Support and carry out research, education, and service and outreach activities related to LACSI’s mission;
- Sponsor and provide, within its budgetary limitations, small grants for students and faculty.
