ADVISORY: Gallaudet groundbreaking signals new era in deaf education and research

From: Gallaudet - Apr 3, 2007

GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY
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Darrick Nicholas
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Gallaudet groundbreaking signals
new era in deaf education and research

EVENT: Groundbreaking, James Lee Sorenson Language and Communication Center
DATE: April 4, 2007
TIME: 4:30 p.m.
LOCATION: Gallaudet University
800 Florida Ave., NE
Washington, DC 20002

NOTE: Gallaudet University, the world’s only liberal arts university for deaf and hard of hearing people, will break ground on a new facility that underscores its commitment to the rich language of American Sign Language and support of visual learning.

The groundbreaking for the James Lee Sorenson Language and Communication Center (SLCC) is scheduled for 4:30 p.m., April 4 on the Gallaudet campus.

The state-of-the-art facility, set to open in 2008, will create a visu-centric space for collaborative learning, teaching, and research in an environment supported by and created from Gallaudet’s commitment to American Sign Language (ASL) and visual learning. The building will serve not only as a model for academic collaboration at Gallaudet but will also serve as an architectural exemplar for all future construction projects at the University.

The university plans to move several departments under one roof, hoping to foster coordinated efforts across academic disciplines. The SLCC will house the following departments:
• ASL and Deaf Studies
• Communication Studies
• Government and History
• Hearing, Speech, and Language Sciences
• Linguistics
• Sociology

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About Gallaudet University
Gallaudet University is the world leader in liberal education and career development for deaf and hard-of-hearing undergraduate students. The University enjoys an international reputation for the outstanding graduate programs it provides deaf, hard-of-hearing, and hearing students, as well as for the quality of the research it conducts on the history, language, culture, and other topics related to deaf people. In addition, the University’s Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center serves deaf and hard-of-hearing children at its two demonstration schools and throughout the nation by developing, implementing, and disseminating innovative educational strategies. Gallaudet is located in Washington, DC.