Frequently Asked Questions
1. How is AAC different from other China study abroad programs?
For decades, schools and universities have conducted travel abroad programs and workshops in China — each school with its own range of resources, contacts and accumulated research and scholarship.
The American Academy in China is the first international platform for different universities to join together, build on shared resources and scholarship, and connect participating scholars to a larger network of forums and speakers and events across the whole of China.
As an initial step, AAC is offering a series of programs: the instigation and examination of architecture and urbanism — in a cultural context of both the traditional and contemporary. The next evolutionary step is the creation of a permanent academy, one that will eventually come to house architects and other creative practitioners and scholars of the arts and humanities of China.
2. Is there a Board of Overseers or Directors for AAC?
The AAC Founding Advisory Committee (FAC) is currently in formation. Comprised of leaders in business, academics and cultural and social advocacy, this group is tasked with oversight of the mission and development of external resources in support of the academy.
3. What are the long-range plans for the AAC?
Although currently USC is the founding institution and principal organizer of AAC, the future outlook of AAC is an independent entity with its own operation system and academic mission, comparable to that of the American Academy in Rome. Although the structure of the two academies may be dissimilar, AAC has a parallel goal: humanistic architecture and idealistic cities in a time and place that is not Western. For the American Academy in China, the larger agenda is that of partnership: embracing other Schools and programs under the larger banner of AAC.
The University of Southern California is establishing the AAC as a vital initiative to its overall global agenda. A two-year funding annual giving program has been established to support an AAC director, faculty, staff, programs, and scholarships. Federal, corporate and individual grants are currently being sought and will be a continuing source of revenue for the continuity of research and academic enrichment of AAC programs.
In addition, a five-year program is planned towards creating a base facility. Also, as the AAC develops, the current student programs will transition and expand towards a permanent research base for scholars.
Like the USC US-China Institute (www.china.usc.edu), a long-term commitment by the university to AAC is being ensured by endowments now being sought for its support. Program, faculty, scholarship and facility endowments will enable the program to continue and expand for the academic enrichment of future generations of scholars.
4. Where is the academy going to be? What specific physical location is under consideration?
A permanent site is being sought for the academy in Beijing or Shanghai with satellite facilities across China to facilitate location specific research.