EMU: APA: Giessen, Germany

Program:

Eastern Michigan University students may attend Justus Liebig University of Gießen for one or two semesters for a cost equivalent to the costs at Eastern Michigan University. Students pay for EMU tuition and fees, plus a modest program fee. The courses taken at JLU appear on the EMU transcript as EMU courses. Students may select courses to count towards a major, minor or General Education requirements. Included in the fall semester-or the year-long program is a 4 week intensive language and cultural immersion experience which begins 4 weeks prior to the start of the fall semester. This immersion program also provides onsite counselors who help make the transition to university life in Germany easier. The immersion program is provided at no additional charge to the students.

The ideal launching-pad for entry into courses of study at Giessen:

The Intensive German Language program is held in September immediately before the start of the semester, and offers 4 weeks (96 hours) of instruction in the German language, with a focus on basic grammar, cultural background, text production and communicative skills.

The special character of the International University Course resides in its program of individual mentoring. Not only does this approach help you to get acquainted with the University, but it also introduces you to the city of Giessen and its environs. The program also runs excursions (to Frankfurt am Main and Heidelberg, for example) and interactive workshops on such topics as video, newspapers, theater, dancing, and cooking.

The University of Gießen and the City of Gießen :

As early as 775 C.E. a community called Weiseck occupied the area northeast of Gießen. By 1152 a castle with moat was built where the town now stands.

In 1607 the University of Gießen was established as a Lutheran university, named "Ludoviciana" after its founder, Louis V, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt. The University was re-named after World War II in honor of the city's most famous resident and is now officially called the Justus Liebig Universität-Gießen.

Justus Liebig called Gießen home for 28 years. He was a chemist, teacher and researcher, who invented mineral fertilizers, and revolutionized modern agriculture, who was awarded the title of Baron for his contributions to science. Many city streets, squares and monuments in the city of Gießen commemorate the achievements of Justus Liebig and carry his name today.

One in three residents of the city are associated with the Fachhochschule or the Justus Liebig University. There are more than 23,000 students and 8,500 employees, making Gießen a real university town with a special character unique among German cities. Located near the Lahn River-one of Germany's most poetic streches of landscape- makes it easy to enjoy leisure activities such as hiking, bicycling and walking in the rural countryside. Gießen's proximity to the big nearby metropolis of Frankfurt offers opportunities to enjoy cultural activities such as: visiting great museums, spending an everning at the theatre and enjoying world-class concert performances.

University Research Center

Dr. Sascha Feuchert EMU’s First Honorary Professor

The Department of World Languages is proud to announce its first Honorary Professor. Dr. Sascha Feuchert of the Justus Liebig University in Gießen, Germany was named Honorary Professor of German in the Department of World Languages in 2009.

Rosemary Weston-Gil, Head of the Department of World Languages, and German Professors Margrit Zinggeler and Carla Damiano of the German Section wholeheartedly welcome Dr. Feuchert in the capacity as honorary colleague; we look forward to the exciting opportunities for international exchange and international collaboration between EMU and the JLU in Gießen.

Dean Tom Venner of the College of Arts & Sciences appointed Dr. Feuchert Honorary Professor of EMU on January 29th, 2009. This appointment comes “in recognition of Dr. Feuchert’s recent, ongoing and future commitment to collaboration with EMU’s German Section, and in recognition of Dr. Feuchert’s collaboration with research colleague Dr. Carla Damiano since 2006.” To further quote Dean Venner: “Offering this appointment as Honorary Professor of Eastern Michigan University occurs within the context of our university mission to ‘extend our commitment beyond the campus boundaries to the wider community through partnerships of mutual interest addressing international opportunities and challenges.’”

Dr. Feuchert is a perfect fit for EMU. Not only has he been recognized for excellence in teaching by recently having been awarded his university’s most distinguished teaching award in November of 2009 – the Wolfgang-Mittermaier-Preis for excellence in teaching – but in addition he has an outstanding reputation as a published scholar of contemporary German- and Holocaust literature; he has also authored various pedagogical works to aid in the teaching of literature. Furthermore, Dr. Feuchert has founded and directs to date the only Holocaust Literary Institute at a German university [Arbeitsstelle Holocaustliteratur]. He has been studying the Holocaust since his graduate student days and in 2008, his years-long efforts to make a major literary/historical contribution to Holocaust Studies came to fruition in the co-edited publication entitled, Die Chronik des Gettos Lodz/Litzmannstadt (The Chronicle of the Lodz/Litzmannstadt Ghetto) which was reviewed in the Michigan War Studies Review in September of 2008.

See: http://www.michiganwarstudiesreview.com/2008/20080901.asp

With the newly-established student exchange between the Justus Liebig University in Gießen and EMU, in conjunction with the special connection to Gießen via our distinguished honorary colleague Dr. Feuchert, we aim to set new trends and raise the standards for internationalizing scholarship and education.

Professors Sandy Dugan and Carla Damiano of World Languages, with students and Dr. Feuchert

For more information on Dr. Sascha Feuchert please visit his website: http://www.holocaustliteratur.de/index.php?content=11&category=4

Map

Location of Gießen (Giessen)