SpringfieldNewsSun.com

SPRINGFIELD — Wittenberg University will use more than $1.3 million in federal funding to create programs to benefit the university and the community.

The funding, approved by legislators in December for a five-year cycle, is expected to be released to the school before the next fiscal year, which starts July 1.

U.S. Rep. David Hobson, R-Springfield, sponsored the earmarks that will permit one existing program to continue and create two new community projects, said Lin Erickson, Wittenberg's director of government, corporate and foundation relations.

The following earmarks fund the following projects:

$600,000 — Develop a new undergraduate international business program using elements of the existing East Asian studies and business management majors.

The university wants to create an East Asian Institute that will reach out to local businesses that do business in Japan and for Japanese business executives coming into the states. Programs will cover areas such as culture, ethics, communication, behavior and general business etiquette and negotiations.

$343,000 — Continue funding for Clark County/Springfield At-Risk Youth Development Program which allows Wittenberg students to participate in after school programs through the county, specifically in areas where children are at risk due to economic or environmental challenges.

$383,187 — Create a partnership with Springfield City Schools to establish professional development programs for Wittenberg education students and current teachers. The program will give education majors field experience in an urban and challenging teaching environment with professional development opportunities for Springfield teachers.

"The most exciting about all three of these is that they are community projects," Erickson said. "They each impact the Springfield area."

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0347 or kmori@coxohio.com.

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