MADISON, Wis. -- The University of Wisconsin-Madison is offering Hmong language classes this semester for the first time as part of the regular curriculum.

College of Letters and Science Dean Gary Sandefur said that he's optimistic that the program will be expanded.

He said that there was community pressure to do more in terms of helping people understand the Hmong language and Hmong culture and Hmong experiences in the United States.

The killings of six white hunters by a Hmong man in 2004 and of a Hmong hunter by a white man this year brought more attention to the matter.

Sandefur said that the College of Letters and Science reallocated money from within its own budget to foot the bill.

Forty students are signed up for three levels of Hmong offered this fall.

He said that the next step toward expanding Hmong studies at UW will be to bring in a visiting scholar to teach and also to raise university awareness of where Hmong studies are at, both nationally and internationally.

Sandefur also said some very preliminary discussions have taken place between the university and the Henry Luce Foundation about possible funding for Hmong programs. He said that could be at UW-Madison or as part of a potential consortium with the University of Minnesota and Concordia College in St. Paul.