UT Austin Folds Gender, Ethnic Studies Into Single Department

""I know that the prospect of change has prompted some concern, but it is important to bear in mind that many subjects worthy of research and teaching do not necessarily need to be isolated as their own small academic departments," Davis wrote. "Instead, these subjects can continue to be researched and taught in the broader context of other fields, classes, disciplines, and departments.""

""This is a grave threat to the educational liberty of students, faculty, staff, and the people of Texas and an attempt to appease the state's right-wing elected officials and Board of Regents," leaders for the Texas chapter of the American Association of University Professors wrote in a news release. "Any changes to [the departments] should be made with clear objectives and rationale, and through a deliberative process. In this case, there has been no such process. These changes have been rushed through with minimal weigh-in from faculty and no input at all from staff or s"

UT Austin will consolidate multiple ethnic and gender studies programs into a new Department for Social and Cultural Analysis Studies effective this September. The new department will include African and African diaspora studies, Mexican American and Latina/o studies, women's, gender and sexuality studies, and American studies. Interim Dean David Sosa told affected department chairs there were no immediate firings announced and no discussion of future layoffs. Asian Studies and Middle Eastern Studies were not included. Separately, French, Germanic, and Slavic departments will combine into a Department of European and Eurasian Studies. The Texas AAUP chapter condemned the changes as rushed and lacking faculty and staff input.

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