The University of Washington has eight NRCs. The University of Wisconsin has seven. But the University hopes to renew funding for its International Studies NRC and to gain funding for NRCs in South Asian Studies and Western European Studies. The new NRCs, if obtained, would be within the College of Liberal Arts. The University has crafted three separate proposals for the NRCs and awaits the decision of the Department of Education.
Universities nationwide compete every three years for a limited amount of funds for the centers.
Each proposal is judged based on the strengths of the faculty members and of existing international programs. The creation of the Institute for International Studies, the acquisition of three South Asian professors and the growing emphasis on international affairs and study abroad might provide the University with an edge over the competition. I n July 1998, the Center for German and European Studies was established, with help from the Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst, the University of Minnesota and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The center is also funded in part by the German government through the German Marshall Fund. CLA professors will collaborate on research projects and curriculum with professors from Germany and the University of Wisconsin.