UGA Virtual Center for Interdisciplinary Studies of the Islamic World (VCISIW) Statement of Purpose of the VCISIW Providing Opportunities The primary purpose of the Virtual Center for Interdisciplinary Studies of the Islamic World (VCISIW) is to increase funding and general opportunities for UGA faculty and students for teaching, research, and study in any discipline concerning the Islamic world, any of its countries, or Muslims. To this end the VCISIW will pursue institutional size grants and create a certificate program for students in Interdisciplinary Studies of the Islamic World. Networking The second purpose is to network --through this website-- all interested UGA faculty members in any academic discipline who have any research or teaching interests concerning the Islamic world, any of its countries, or Muslims. This will allow the VCISIW to build both a broad web of faculty members as well as a nucleus of faculty committed to engaging in cooperative scholarly endeavors designed to achieve the primary purpose of the VCISIW. We are currently in the process of doing the research that will enable us to create the VCISIW institutional base and website. This process involves canvassing the entire faculty of UGA by means of a questionnaire that you can see here. UGA Faculty who have interests related to the VCISIW will be indexed in three ways: by their college or school and department within UGA, by country, and by name. Although we are just now beginning to identify faculty, we are currently constructing the index according to faculty colleges or schools and departments. Outreach The third purpose is outreach: by means of this website and Dr. Godlas' Webby nominated Islam and Islamic Studies Resources website, the VCISIW intends to provide the academic community, journalists, and the public with academically reliable and balanced information about the Islamic world, its countries, and Muslims. Funding and Donations The UGA Virtual Center for Interdisciplinary Studies of the Islamic World was funded initially by a startup grant of $2500 from UGA Partners Program and President Michael Adams' Venture Fund. Additional donations will help it to achieve its goals. Any donations are tax-deductible and can be made through the VCISIW Donations webpage Board of Directors Alan Godlas, Director of VCISIW and Associate Professor of Religion, (Islamic Studies and Arabic), (706) 542-1486 Thiab Taha, Professor of Computer Science Ken Honerkamp, Assistant Professor of Religion (Islamic Studies and Arabic) Administrative Assistance Bryan Gallant Administrative Assistant

Copyright©2006 Dr. A. Godlas. Nothing on any of the pages of this website may be reproduced in any fashion except by written permission of the author. Links to these pages and conventionally cited scholarly quotations, however, can of course be made. Unless otherwise stated, none of the images belong to the author.