The ETSU Language and Culture Resource Centers’ program “Reading Through the Pandemic” is helping many language studies students cover the cost of their textbooks.

Dr. Felipe Fiuza, director of ETSU’s “Reading Through the Pandemic” program. (Contributed/ETSU)

Felipe Fiuza, an assistant professor of Spanish at ETSU, is the director of the program.

“When I had this idea to create this program, we were in the first week of classes, so I imagined that the majority of students had purchased books by then,” said Fiuza. “We only had one application. This is the second semester of the program.”

The program takes applications from students studying language and culture who need assistance paying for textbooks. After the application is received, the LCRC purchases the required books for the student.

“I asked the students who apply for the program to send the class syllabus, and I purchase the lowest available copy of the book according to the syllabus,” said Fiuza.

Students who recieve textbooks through the program may keep them if they wish, or they can return the books to the LCRC for future students to use.

The LCRC offers more to language and culture students than just the “Reading Through the Pandemic” program.

“I am always aiming at creating resources for the community,” said Fiuza. “Resources that have to do with both language and culture, we have music festivals and language classes offered as well.”