SUBJECT:  Establishment of the Institute for International,
                     Comparative, and Area Studies (IICAS)

Following consultation with the Academic Senate and campus administrative officials, I am pleased to announce the establishment of the Institute for International, Comparative, and Area Studies as an Organized Research Unit reporting to Vice Chancellor Richard Attiyeh. Professor Miles Kahler will serve as Interim Director until a search for the founding Director is completed.

The Institute will promote research on international, comparative, and cross-regional subjects, and it will coordinate and provide services for existing and new international and area studies programs. As part of its future responsibilities, IICAS also will provide campus-wide services in support of international visitors and coordinate international campus contacts, requests for affiliation agreements, and collaborative international research projects. The Interim Director and the Institute Advisory Committee will advise the Senior Vice Chancellor on campus priorities and appointments in international studies. The initial members of the Institute Advisory Committee are Joseph Esherick (Chair), Suzanne Brenner, Charles Briggs, William Chandler, Gordon Hanson, David Lake, Lisa Lowe, Andrew MacIntyre, Joel Robbins, Akos Rona-Tas, and Stefan Tanaka.

Professor Kahler also will serve as Director of the new undergraduate major in International Studies, reporting to Dean of Social Sciences Paul Drake. The Institute and instructional program will share administrative staff and space in Sequoyah Hall, Rooms 205-208, beginning in March 2002. Until the Institute moves to Sequoyah Hall, Professor Kahler may be reached at mkahler@ucsd.edu, mail code 0519, telephone 43078.

                                                Robert C. Dynes
                                                Chancellor