Beginning on January 19, 2008 and running eight consecutive Saturday mornings, ECU will host the Foreign Policy Association's Great Decisions Program The program is sponsored by the World Affairs Council of Eastern North Carolina. The Program consists of a series of lectures by academic and professional experts on topics of global significance. The 2008 topics are Iraq End-game, European Union at 50, Talking to Our Enemies, Russia, US Defense and Security Policy, Latin America: Shift to the Left?, US-China Trade Policy, Private Philanthropy.

Each session will run from 10:00am -12:00pm, beginning with an hour-long lecture, followed by a short break with refreshments and then a question and answer period. Following the tradition of the Foreign Policy Association (FPA), attendees will then have the opportunity to voice their opinion on the topic by "voting" for or against certain foreign policy positions for the U.S. government. Each year, the FPA consolidates the results of the voting by citizen groups all over the country participating in The Great Decisions Program and presents them to the Secretary of State, as an example of citizen interest and involvement in international issues.

The cost of attending the eight sessions of the Great Decisions Program is $49 for World Affairs Council members, $59 for the general public if registered before January 11, 2008, and $69 thereafter. Registration includes the Great Decisions textbook. Full-time students and teachers can attend for free and purchase the book for $20 ($16 if they are WAC members). There is a $10 charge for attending individual sessions. (These costs are subject to change.)

Teachers and professionals desiring information on obtaining Continuing Education Units, contact Dr. Sylvie Debevec Henning in International Studies, (252) 328-5520 or hennings@ecu.edu

For further information on the program, contact:
Dr. Sylvie Debevec Henning, Director
International Programs,Harriot College of Arts and Sciences
(252) 328-5520
hennings@ecu.edu