The American Studies Program (ASP) begins again on February 4 with the arrival of 123 students.  One of the primary activities that approximately 90% of the students are most interested in joining is the Tomodachi ("friendship") Program.  Students want to connect and befriend people in the community and share their cultures with them, as well as learning about American culture.  They will be signing up for the program in mid-March and the need for community participants is high.

Whether you are young or old, married or single, have children or not, you have something to offer!  The students live on the Willamette University campus and they are busy with classes and campus life, so all we ask of program participants is once a month contact with your student(s) on your schedule.  It could be for dinner, an athletic activity, shopping, movie night, etc. Many of the students say it takes a little of the homesickness away to spend time off campus with you!

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One-hundred twenty three students arrived in Salem Tuesday, February 4.  The Class of 2014 are here for the 11-month American Studies Program (ASP) at Willamette University.  The students looked excited to finally arrive and began their orientation to campus. There will be an official welcome by the Willamette community at Goudy Commons at Tuesday's dinner. Students will be welcomed by Willamette University's Dean of Campus Life David Douglass.  There will also be musical performances by campus a capella groups Headband, Tandem, and UpTop.

Click here for a photo gallery of the arrival day activities.

One hundred and thirty students were honored during the annual closing ceremony on Friday, December 14, 2012.  There was a certificate ceremony, as well as presenting some awards, in Hudson Hall on the Willamette University campus.  Afterwards, there was a reception party. The ceremony is the culmination of a year of intense study of English and American Studies courses taught by TIUA and Willamette University faculty members.

This 2013 class of students arrived for the American Studies Program at Willamette University in February. This program offers students the opportunity to take classes at TIUA and WIllamette University, as well as participating in various activities throughout the eleven months, such as volunteering with local charities, getting to know community members through the Tomodachi "friendship" Program, and interacting with Willamette University students as roommates and friends.

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