PROGRAM REVIEW FOR
CENTERS AND INSTITUTES
Center/Institute: Center for Ethnographic Analysis
Director/Administrator: Jack Bedell
College/Academic unit: Department of Anthropology College of Humanities and
Social Sciences
Contact Information: McCarthy Hall 422
Date: March 23, 2009
Name of primary authors if different
From Director/Administrator: Barbra Erickson, MH426-E (714) 278-5697;
Joseph Nevadomsky; Tricia Gabany-Guerrero; Robey Callahan.
Self-Study
1. Mission
The Center for Ethnographic Analysis was created in 1998 as part of the Department of
Anthropology Research and Teaching Facility, with a grant of $1 million from the National
Science Foundation and funds from the university and other donations. The Anthropology
Research and Teaching Facility was designed to promote integrated understanding and training
in the various subfields of anthropology. The specific mission of the center is to provide
resources, equipment, training and hands-on experience and to provide students with skills in
systematic cultural analysis that will be transferable to the workplace. The center also promotes
faculty-student collaboration on research projects at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
2. Goals and Activities
The Anthropology department is moving to change its structure in the development of four
concentrations including Cultural Anthropology, Archaeology, Evolutionary Anthropology, and
Linguistic Anthropology. These concentrations will require additional methods courses.
Accordingly, an increased emphasis on methods in the department means an increasing
utilization of the center. Likewise, the growth in the department has brought about more interest
in sponsoring students in research and other collaborations with other scholars and students in
multi-disciplinary research. The center plans to step up its plans to seek external funding. The
center has developed a set of goals for the upcoming year(s). Those goals include support for
ethnographic research; provide facilities and technology for ethnographic methods, teaching, and
research; and provide the facilities and technology for graduate and undergraduate students to
engage in local community, national and international research.
3. Resources and Sustainability
The center is housed in McCarthy Hall 442 it consists of computer lab with 29 terminals,
computer software, research library of classic ethnographies and theoretical works and visual
anthropology equipment. According the self-study the computer soft ware has been utilized
heavily and many of the department’s faculty use the computer lab to teach components of their
courses. Because of the interest and demand for the facilities of the center a proposal has been
drafted to enhance the software and hardware for the center. Both imaging and up-to-date
qualitative analysis software are critical for the department of discipline-based skills in cultural
anthropology. It is necessary that these resources be constantly maintained and replenished in
order that the students in the program acquire knowledge and skills to compete in the field.
4. Organizational Structure and Governance
Presently, the center does not have an identified director nor does it have an advisory board.
Decisions related to the operations of the facility are made by the Department Chair, Jack Bedell
and Dean of Humanities, Thomas Klammer.
Four cultural anthropology faculty members have proposed that an advisory board be appointed
which would include members of the faculty and outside faculty member in the field of cultural
anthropology.
5. Highlights and Accomplishments
One of the strengths of the center is its wide use of the computer lab by both faculty and
students. It is used for teaching and training in methods of ethnographic analysis, in producing
research projects and GIS projects and in producing posters for professional meetings.
6. Planning and Strategic Outlook
The immediate goal of the center is to propose that an advisory board be established. There is an
increased interest in the visual anthropology aspects of the center including the making of
ethnographic films. Faculty in the center sees the center as integral to their teaching and service
to the university. In addition, there will be proposals to work with other disciplines like
linguistics for collaborations.
7. Viability
The viability of the center is encapsulated in this statement: “Our proposals for new software, as
well as our department decision to increase the requirements of majors and graduate students for
methods training make the center a valuable, indeed indispensable resource”. The center is
developing a funding plan to compete for grants to fully fund its goals and objectives.
8. Appendices
Summary and Recommendation(s)
The Center for Ethnographic Analysis is operated by the Anthropology Department and its
mission connected to university mission is to advance teaching and learning by providing
students with opportunities to develop skills in systematic cultural analysis that will be
transferable to the workplace. The center also promotes faculty-student collaboration on research
projects at both undergraduate and graduate levels. The Center (computer lab) is in great demand
by faculty and students for teaching and research. And the Center is of particular import to the
cultural anthropology faculty who have taken leadership in program innovation and planning.
The Center does not have a director or designated point person nor does it have an advisory
board. Decisions regarding its operation are made by the department chair in consultation with
the college dean. The four cultural anthropology faculty have recommended a set of goals and
priorities which include the establishment of an advisory board that would include at least one
external member. The Center should also consider the appointment of a director or lead person.
The Center is a viable entity that appears to meet a critical component of the growing research
and teaching needs of an expanding department. A vigorous funding plan (grant procurement) is
planned to assure the viability and sustainability of the center.
Reviewed by Dean’s Council
April 1, 2009
Status: Continuation