Language program director

A Language Program Director (LPD) is a usually senior academic position in United States universities. In some institutions a LPD can also be referred to as a 'Language Program Coordinator' (LPC), while in others the LPD has a hierarchically higher position than an LPC, the latter coordinating just one course level. LPDs usually coordinate all levels of instruction of undergraduate language programs. Most LPDs are not on a tenure-track because traditionally linguistic studies have been considered by Departments of Foreign Languages and Literatures as less important than literary studies. According to a recent MLA report, [ [http://www.mla.org/flreport Report from the MLA Ad Hoc Committee on Foreign Languages ] ] this is a trend that should be reversed. In the past LPD positions were generally filled by people - usually women - with degrees in literature and no training in second language acquisition or applied linguistics. This has resulted in a lack of innovation in US language programs. Recently, however, more and more universities are looking for new program directors with specific training in applied linguistics. [ [http://web2.adfl.org/adfl/bulletin/v30n1/301052.htm Surviving the Leap from Graduate Student to Language Program Director: Issues, Challenges, Rewards ] ] , and are offering their LPDs tenure-track positions. A useful source of information for LPDs is the American Association of University Supervisors and Coordinators (AAUSC) [ [http://www.aausc.org AAUSC ] ]

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