CAS developing new vision for transnational studies programs

The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) is holding meetings with faculty, students and members of the community to obtain feedback and generate ideas about how the college can revitalize programs offered by the Department of Transnational Studies.

The goal of the discussions, says CAS Dean Robin Schulze, is to work collaboratively on a plan to refocus the programs so they are more responsive to the current needs of students, the community and society.

“Working with our faculty, students and community partners, we have the opportunity to revitalize these programs to respond to undergraduate and graduate student needs, and reframe scholarship and research in ways that address pressing issues facing the African American, Native American and LatinX communities in our region and beyond,” Schulze says.

“Other universities are re-evaluating and revitalizing their programs. “We’d like to do the same.”

In meetings with students, faculty and the community, the college will seek input and feedback to inform these plans for the programs. “Completely engaging the faculty, while continuing ongoing conversations with students and members of the community will make this a thoroughly collaborative effort,” she says.

Schulze has already committed funding to hire new faculty in African and African American studies, and she also wants to open a curriculum discussion that begins to address the questions inspired by her meetings with students last spring.

At a Nov. 21 meeting with faculty, staff and students from the Department of Transnational Studies, Schulze discussed committing resources to support a process to revitalize the areas, including scheduling conversations with students, faculty and the community.

“These discussions are a vital part of a process that will lead to a renewed vision of how we serve our public,” she says. “They will also increase visibility and community awareness for programs in African and African American studies, Native studies and LatinX studies on our campus.”

The conversations with students in the pre-law chapter of the National Black Law Student Association, for example, raised issues and concerns students have with the African and African American studies program.

 “The most important thing for me is what this means for students,” Schulze says. “What problems to you want to solve? What do you need? What do you want to study?”

 The college expects to begin this process in the spring semester.