FLAC at St. Olaf was initiated in 1989 with funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities; continued support from the National Endowment allowed the program to develop foreign language components for additional courses in the humanities; a grant from the Fund for the Improvement of Post-Secondary Education supported development of language components in the social and behavioral sciences and in math.
Since its beginning, over 500 students from a variety of majors have participated in the FLAC program by taking at least one foreign language component; over 150 of these students have earned Applied Foreign Language Certification by successfully completing at least two components.
During its grant stage, the St. Olaf program gained national recognition and acclaim for its innovation and challenge to students. Today, FLAC at St. Olaf is supported by an endowment established by the Virginia Ann Dekker Groot Family, in recognition of the program's successful contribution to international education at the College. The innovative design and teaching that characterize the program have made it a distinctive part of the College's curriculum, and a nationally acclaimed model for other colleges and universities who seek to educate students as global citizens.
History of FLAC
