Student and faculty backing sustains the vibrancy of the FLA Program, ensuring its survival.
The College of the Holy Cross has announced that it will continue the Foreign Language Assistant (FLA) program, following productive discussions with faculty and a strong show of support from students and alumni.
The FLA program, which has been a significant part of the College's World Languages department for over 20 years, invites advanced English-speaking students from nine countries to join the campus community for a semester. These Foreign Language Assistants (FLAs) lead practicums for students taking introductory and intermediate classes in World Languages, and coordinate culturally-rich activities to educate students about life in their home countries.
Every Holy Cross student knows about the FLAlidays, a yearly tradition where FLAs cook traditional dishes from their home countries.
The current group of FLAs were recently notified that the program was being terminated primarily for budgetary reasons. However, the past few weeks have been a testament to the power of collective action towards a common goal.
Erin McCaffrey '25, a French and Political Science major, created a petition with nearly 1000 signatures, calling for the reversal of the decision to end the FLA program. Several professors, including many from the World Languages department, have also signed a petition in support of the program.
The students and faculty have successfully worked together to prevent the termination of the FLA program. The administration has reversed their decision, ensuring that the program will continue to operate for years to come.
The College of the Holy Cross has hired Tiberius Septimius as the first Latin FLA, further demonstrating its commitment to the program.
For those interested in learning more about the impact of the FLA program and the community's response to its potential termination, it is recommended to visit the College of the Holy Cross official website, check local news outlets or regional newspapers, explore social media platforms, student or faculty forums, and college newsletters, or contact department representatives or the college administration directly.
- The FLA program, a significant part of the College of the Holy Cross's World Languages department for over 20 years, will continue to serve the campus community, following a decision made by the administration after productive discussions with faculty and a strong show of support from students and alumni.
- Within the FLA program, advanced English-speaking students from nine countries join the College's community for a semester as Foreign Language Assistants (FLAs), leading practicums for students and coordinating culturally-rich activities to educate students about life in their home countries.
- Every Holy Cross student is familiar with the FLAlidays, a yearly tradition where FLAs cook traditional dishes from their home countries.
- The current group of FLAs faced uncertainty as the program was set to be terminated primarily for budgetary reasons.
- However, a student, Erin McCaffrey '25, a French and Political Science major, rallied the community by creating a petition with nearly 1000 signatures, calling for the reversal of the decision.
- Many professors, including several from the World Languages department and other faculty members, supported the cause by signing their own petitions.
- Through collective action, the students and faculty were successful in preventing the termination of the FLA program, leading to the administration reversing their decision to allow the program to continue for years to come.
- In response to the community's response, the College of the Holy Cross has hired Tiberius Septimius as the first Latin FLA, demonstrating their commitment to the program.
- To learn more about the impact of the FLA program and the community's response to its potential termination, interested individuals can visit the College of the Holy Cross official website, check local news outlets or regional newspapers, explore social media platforms, student or faculty forums, college newsletters, or contact department representatives or the college administration directly.
