Important Update (as of October 2025)
Due to recent federal funding changes, several programs previously supported through U.S. Department of Education Title VI and National Resource Center (NRC) grants have been discontinued or are not currently active.
Until September 10, 2025, the International Institute was home to six National Resource Centers (NRCs). These prestigious designations, earned in national peer-reviewed competitions, were awarded by the U.S. Department of Education Title VI program. The program strived to develop the nation’s capacity in international studies, area studies, foreign languages, and international business education.
Six centers had received grants for Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships. These centers administered annual competitions that awarded undergraduate and graduate-level fellowships to support the study of foreign languages.
National Resource Centers (CANCELED)
FLAS-Granting Centers (CANCELED)
Title VI refers to the section of the National Defense Education Act of 1958 that established a set of academic and fellowship programs. These programs were inaugurated in response to the launch of Sputnik by the Soviet Union in 1957 and the U.S. government’s recognition that greater capacity in foreign languages and area studies was needed.
Subsequently incorporated into the Higher Education Act and administered by the U.S. Department of Education, Title VI programs were expanded over the past 50 years to address not only national security needs but also concerns related to global competitiveness and a more internationally competent citizenry.
Since 1960, Title VI grants from the U.S. Department of Education have supported the University of Michigan through the NRC and FLAS programs. Many units within the International Institute benefited from this support, which is now inactive due to recent federal funding changes.
