Education
Gratz College Launches America’s First Master’s Degree in Antisemitism Studies
PHILADELPHIA, February 22, 2024 (Newswire.com) - Gratz College is launching the first Master of Arts degree program in Antisemitism Studies in the United States in Fall 2024. This ground-breaking program will help fill the vacuum of knowledge about antisemitism across Jewish, non-Jewish, and governmental organizations responsible for generating policy to combat prejudice at a time of unprecedented Jew hatred.
It will:
• Provide an academic home for those seeking to develop both a deep theoretical and practical understanding of antisemitism;
• Help generate new and impactful research on the factors that contribute to growing antisemitism and test interventions that can successfully combat it; and
• Arm educators and practitioners with the most effective antisemitism pedagogy and programming.
Through degree concentrations in teaching, advocacy and research, graduates of this program will be uniquely qualified for prominent careers in education, think tanks, government relations, public policy, and community organizations (Jewish and non-Jewish).
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro is eager to see this program take shape:
“We’re seeing a dangerous rise in antisemitism, hatred, and bigotry across our country – and it’s more important than ever that Pennsylvanians be equipped with a thorough knowledge of our shared history and the skills to discern fact from fiction. Gratz College is already renowned for its Holocaust and Genocide Studies programs, and I am encouraged the College is expanding upon that work with a new Master’s degree in Antisemitism Studies. I wish the faculty, staff, and especially the inaugural class of Antisemitism Studies students, great success in their work.”
The program is directed by Dr. Ayal Feinberg, antisemitism studies expert and Director of the Center for Holocaust Studies and Human Rights at Gratz College. The program boasts a distinguished interdisciplinary faculty from academia and leading public advocacy organizations. Despite its infancy, the degree has been endorsed by nearly one hundred scholars and public policy experts from around the world. Professor of Political Science at Kalamazoo College R. Amy Elman asserts, “With an emphasis on operationalizing knowledge, informed teaching and ethical advocacy, Gratz’s innovative graduate program fulfills a deep need in countering antisemitism.”
Gratz’s Antisemitism Studies program is also establishing ground-breaking partnerships with the world’s most prominent Jewish organizations and programs to combat antisemitism in the classroom, on campus, and in professional workspaces. In the first such partnership, Gratz and The Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History have joined forces to launch the National Education Fellowship on Antisemitism. The aim of this fellowship is to generate and assess paradigm-shifting middle and high school curriculum to reduce Jew-hatred and prejudice more broadly.
As an early adopter of online education, a 128-year history of Jewish learning, and home to the world’s largest graduate program in Holocaust and Genocide Studies, Gratz is uniquely qualified to take on this necessary and overdue program.
On March 4, 2024, the master’s degree program will kick-off with a series of public lectures, including by scholars serving as affiliate faculty for the program. On April 2, 2024, Dr. Avinoam Patt, inaugural director of NYU’s Center for Study of Antisemitism and the Maurice Greenberg Professor of Holocaust Studies, will deliver a keynote lecture, titled, "Awake My People": Jewish Responses to Antisemitism in the Modern Period.” Additional talks will take place before the program officially begins in August.
Prospective students eager to start may apply now and take courses as early as March 2024 with electives in Antisemitism Studies already developed as a preview to the program.
Gratz College is grateful to the Isidore and Penny Myers Foundation for generously supporting the launch of the Antisemitism Studies program. Jay Myers, Board Chair, shared: “The Isidore and Penny Myers Foundation, a family foundation guided by Jewish American values, sees great worth in educating future generations about the roots of Antisemitism, and by doing so, working to combat it. This degree program will create scholars who can devote their talent to meet this challenge. Our Foundation is proud to support this work and by so doing, meet our obligation to help repair the world.”
Contact: lcohen@gratz.edu for more information.
Contact Information:Lori Cohen
Director of Marketing and Design
lcohen@gratz.edu
215-635-7300 x182
Original Source: Gratz College Launches America's First Master's Degree in Antisemitism Studies
Latest Fit News
Laurel Road: Exploring How Long It Takes to Pay Off Student Loan Debt
NEW YORK, June 16, 2023 (Newswire.com) - Laurel Road: The journey to repay student loan debt could take many years, depending on various factors. On average, borrowers take about 20 years to pay off their loans, but with a relatively small balance, they may be able to pay off the debt within just a few years of graduation. And borrowers with the resources to make substantial payments may drastically reduce their repayment time. Read on to learn more about the factors that determine how long it takes to pay off student loan debt.
Types of student loans
The type of student loan will influence repayment options and timelines. Federal loans, which account for about 90% of student debt, offer repayment plans and programs with various loan terms. Private loan terms depend on the individual lender, as some may have variable rates that could affect repayment timelines. Private loans may take between 5 and 20 years to repay, depending on the financial institution's guidelines.
Repayment plans
A borrower's repayment plan plays a major role in determining the time it takes to pay off their student loan debt. Each private lender may offer unique payment plan options, and refinancing could either extend or shorten the payment term. Federal student loans offer several options, such as income-driven repayment plans, that depend on a borrower's income, and several that don't. Each plan can impact how long it takes to repay a loan:
Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) plans are typically paced at 20 or 25 years of payments, after which the balance may be eligible for student loan forgiveness. Those who work in the public sector or at a qualifying non-profit may also qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) with a repayment plan of ten years before loan forgiveness.
In the Standard Repayment Plan, borrowers pay a fixed monthly amount to repay their student loan within ten years. Most people with student loan debt automatically enroll in this plan.
What else affects repayment timelines?
Additional factors could influence how long it takes students to repay their loans.
Federal Proposals. Since 2020, student loan payments and interest have been paused in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Biden-Harris administration has also proposed a student loan relief plan which would eliminate $10,000 or $20,000 of debt for qualifying borrowers. Other proposals include reforms to IDR plans. Each of these decisions may impact repayment timelines for federal student loans.
Forbearance or Deferment. Borrowers who are struggling with payments may apply for forbearance or deferment. Forbearance pauses payments for up to a year at a time, but the loans may continue accruing interest. Alternatively, if a borrower is in school, unemployed, or meets other need-based qualifications, they may apply for deferment, which delays loan payments as long as the need persists. Perkins loans and subsidized loans don't accumulate interest during deferment. However, both forbearance and deferment may extend repayment terms by several years, which is why an IDR plan is generally considered a better option for those who need help making loan payments.
Consolidation. Borrowers may consolidate multiple loans to streamline their repayment process. Sometimes, loan consolidation could reset the repayment schedule, potentially even extending the repayment period to 30 years.
Principal Payments. Borrowers with the means can always contribute extra payments toward their principal loan balance, which will not only cut the total repayment time but also reduce the total interest paid over the life of the loan.
Final Thoughts
Most repayment plans allow for debt resolution within 10 to 25 years with consistent payments. Borrowers struggling to make monthly payments have options to make the process more manageable—through refinancing or a new payment plan—though it may extend the term of the loan. Meanwhile, those with the resources could choose to accelerate their loan repayment process by making larger monthly payments or by paying down the principal. There are many paths available, depending on the borrower's loan type, balance, resources, and future financial plans.
About Laurel Road
Laurel Road began originating student loans in 2013 and has since helped thousands of professionals with undergraduate and postgraduate degrees consolidate and refinance more than $7 billion in federal and private school loans.
Contact Information:Carolina d'Arbelles-Valle
Senior Public Relations Specialist
carolina.darbellesv@iquanti.com
(201) 633-2125
Original Source: Laurel Road: Exploring How Long It Takes to Pay Off Student Loan Debt
