Strategic Plan

Mission Statement

The Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures (LAN) dedicates itself to the intellectual and experiential development of its students by offering courses of the highest caliber in language, culture, literature, linguistics, and pedagogy. We are proud to foster a global citizenry as expressed in the strategic plans of Illinois State University and the College of Arts and Sciences, and we share the commitment to internationalize the curriculum with ISU’s international strategic planning documents. Furthering these goals, we continue to enhance our offerings, raise awareness about the critical role of languages in a global society, and place our unique learning and expertise at the service of Illinois State University, the people of Illinois, and the academic community.

Core Values

Consistent with the strategic plans of Illinois State University and the College of Arts and Sciences, we in LAN value:

• Multilingualism

  We value the practicality of knowing more than one language in a multilingual world. We are committed to the study of languages, literatures, and cultures to develop important intellectual skills: approaching the world with empathy and curiosity; understanding, appreciating, and engaging with knowledge produced in other languages and cultural contexts; exploring other perspectives and points of view to deepen cultural knowledge and develop intercultural competency. We view the interrogation of one’s own position in the world as essential to learning from others’ experiences and ways of knowing. We appreciate cultural and linguistic diversity in our society and in our world, and we value the lifelong learning and cognitive benefits inherent in nurturing bilingual/multilingual skills.

• Learning and Scholarship

  We value the active pursuit of new knowledge through research and its dissemination through publication and teaching. We study and teach languages with the goal of communicating across languages and cultures. The disciplines of theoretical and applied linguistics, and literary and cultural studies, are fields that examine how language works and how literature and other forms of cultural expression reflect and inflect the human experience, universally and in culturally specific terms. We are seriously committed to the scholar-teacher model in keeping with the longstanding goals of the college and the university. We believe the two roles are indissolubly intertwined. Just as teaching benefits from research conducted outside the classroom, research benefits from ideas first generated as part of course preparation. Our research and teaching foster innovative thinking, engagement with diverse perspectives, and lifelong learning.

• Teaching and Individualized Attention

  We value the development of skills necessary for lifelong learning, critical thinking, and engaged citizenship within a global society. We foster the development of marketable, transferable skills among students: effective reading, writing, listening, and speaking in one’s first/heritage and additional languages; development of cultural knowledge and intercultural communication skills; critical and creative thinking; research strategies and practices; information literacy and fluency,and formation of evidence-based arguments; and collaborative learning and problem solving. Our student-centered instruction, along with strong academic support services, proactive and responsive advisement, and active student organizations, offer community and expand learning outside of the classroom—all of which cultivates belonging and encourages thriving. We value the development of undergraduate and graduate programs of the highest standards.

• Collaboration

  We value engagement with students and faculty of other disciplines as part of our contribution to the overall quality of scholarship, learning, and teaching at Illinois State University. We value LAN’s partnership with interdisciplinary programs across campus, contributing to course offerings and extra-curricular programming to maintain active dialogues on vital issues related to language, culture, and the humanities. As a department of languages, literatures, and cultures, we must perform and indeed seek to expand our role in developing and supporting the global dimension of higher education both inside the university and within our local, state, national, and international communities.

• Shared Governance

  We value the diversity of ideas, academic freedom, cooperation, and collegiality among faculty members. The enfranchisement of all members of the department is essential to setting and managing departmental goals and priorities. We value participation at all levels of administrative organization of the college and the university as part of our role as members of a thriving academic community.

• Equity, Diversity, Access, and Inclusion

  We are committed to fostering a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion through the teaching of languages, literatures, and cultures. We value diverse perspectives and teach the skills of intercultural dialogue to empower our students to think critically, engage in informed discussions, challenge existing viewpoints, and navigate the complexities of our global society. As scholars in our field, we are acutely aware of how linguistic and cultural hierarchies shape our society and limit access to knowledge and power. We recognize and seek to address the historical inequities that have shaped access to higher education and representation within our disciplines, striving to create a more equitable and just world. Our goal is to create a welcoming and inclusive environment that promotes the intellectual and personal growth of all students.