Mansfield University Home PageA Brief History Issued by the Canadian Studies Consortium--Mansfield, PA, February, 2000
DEFINITION OF COLLABORATIVE. On October 15, 1992, the Board of Governors adopted Policy 1992-01, "Designation of State System Collaboratives," for the purpose of "[facilitating] collaboration among universities and, thus, to increase the benefits of State System linkage," as called for in the Priorities document. According to the Collaborative policy document, "A State System Collaborative is an entity hosted and housed by one or more State System universities, but designed to involve faculty and staff from sister universities in planning and advisory capacities and to utilize faculty and staff, and, in some instances, student resources from sister universities in fulfilling its mission."
DESIGNATION OF CANADIAN STUDIES COLLABORATIVE. In February 1994 Mansfield University convened the first meeting of the "Intra-System Ad Hoc Committee on Canadian Studies" at the State System headquarters in Harrisburg. Representatives of seven system universities and the Academic Relations Officer from the Canadian Consulate presented to Dr. Burger the rationale and need for, and the significance and appropriateness of, a System Collaborative in Canadian Studies.
Subsequently, on April 25, 1994, Dr. Mary Burger, on behalf of the Chief Academic Officers, requested that "MANSFIELD UNIVERSITY . . . SERVE AS THE 'LEAD CAMPUS' . . . FOR THE SYSTEM CONSORTIUM OR COLLABORATIVE IN CANADIAN STUDIES." A key purpose in creating a System Collaborative in Canadian Studies was to improve opportunities for external funding for multi-campus Canadian Studies projects while, at the same time, encouraging each campus to develop its own individual and unit projects. To this end, Dr. Burger called for "a system-wide committee to coordinate and promote Canadian studies projects, particularly those involving two or more system institutions."
On February 21, 1997, the Canadian Studies Collaborative voted unanimously to change its name to the Canadian Studies Consortium. (CSC).
In February 1998 and again in February 1999, the Consortium voted to extend membership to any school or individual in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania who had an interest in and a commitment to the development of Canadian Studies in the Commonwealth. In February 2000, faculty from Lehigh University and Moravian College joined the Consortium.
Consortium members come from Moravian College, and Mansfield, Lock Haven, Clarion, Kutztown, Millersville, Shippensburg, Edinboro, Indiana, West Chester, California, East Stroudsburg and Lehigh universities. Non-affiliated members come from the community of Wellsboro. Membership is increasing. As of February 2000, the Consortium has 52 affiliated and non-affiliated members.
