French program recognized by national organization as exemplary

The American Association of Teachers of French (AATF) conferred the honor of Exemplary Program with Honors on the French program at Elon University on April 23, 2016.

This honor recognizes post-secondary French programs that demonstrate growth, innovation, pedagogical excellence, the support of colleagues and administrators, and the success of current students and alumni. Mary Helen Kashuba, past president of the AATF, wrote to congratulate Associate Professor of French Olivia Choplin, who submitted the dossier for consideration: “Our committee was especially impressed by your growth in numbers, both of faculty and students, your many activities, and your innovative programs. As a college teacher myself, I was especially pleased to see your interdisciplinary programs, and your creative courses. I hope that your success will continue into the future, and that you will inspire other universities to enhance their programs.” 

Several of Elon’s French faculty have been recognized for their teaching excellence and their collaborations with colleagues across campus. This semester, Associate Professor of French Sarah Glasco’s experimental course FRE 378: Cultural Shifts in France Through Music, will be performing the creative culmination of a semester’s worth of research and study of the May 1968 cultural revolution in France on Thursday, May 5 at 7:30 p.m. in the Tap House in collaboration with students from Clay Stevenson’s MUS 310: Live Sound Production Recording. 

The exemplary program recognition means that Elon will be featured on the website of the AATF from 2016-2018, and Glasco will accept the award on behalf of Elon’s French program this summer at the AATF convention in Austin, Texas.