UT San Antonio will be merging its Department of Race, Ethnicity, Gender and Sexuality Studies with the Department of Bicultural-Bilingual Studies, effective Sept. 1.
The San Antonio Express-News first reported the consolidation, stating that an email was sent to UT San Antonio’s College of Education and Human Development faculty and staff on Jan. 16 announcing the two departments’ consolidation.
UT San Antonio College of Education and Human Development Dean Mario Torres, Ph.D., said in the email that “at this time, no changes to faculty or staff positions, reporting structures or job responsibilities are planned,” and that the move would be “an exciting opportunity,” leading to a “more prosperous future” for the college and its academic programs.
In a separate email to students, Torres stated, “No action is required on your part,” regarding the university’s decision.
According to the Express-News, UT San Antonio officials did not respond to questions about who made the decision, why it was made or what would materially change as a result of this decision.
A faculty member who spoke to the Express-News anonymously stated that professors were informed at a faculty meeting before the start of the spring semester that the move to consolidate the departments was “already made,” and that faculty were not consulted before the announcement.
UT San Antonio’s move comes after the UT System Board of Regents’ Feb. 19 vote to approve an initiative that restricts the teaching of “controversial subjects” in classrooms. The policy requires that faculty “not attempt to coerce, indoctrinate, harass, or belittle students, especially in addressing controversial subjects and areas where people of good faith can hold differing convictions.” The policy also prohibits syllabi from containing “unrelated controversial or contested matters.”
Ellen Riojas Clark, Ph.D., a former professor in the Department of Bicultural-Bilingual Studies, discussed the history of the Department of Mexican American Studies and critiqued the university’s decision and its potential effects on students.
“UTSA was established under the premise that it was going to serve South Texas. I think it’s crucial that UTSA was established to meet the needs of underrepresented ethnic minorities,” Clark stated. “Mexican American studies was set up so that we, as ethnic minorities, as people of color, as Mexican Americans, as Latinos, as Chicanos, needed to know who we were and who we are.”
Clark also emphasized that the decision to consolidate the departments into one is a political move by the UT System Board of Regents.
“The regents are appointed by [the governor]. They’re all going to vote in whatever way that that’s perceived. That’s political, and [Gov. Gregg] Abbott is speaking to the White House. So it’s all driven this way.”
When asked about the effect the move will have on students in the future, Clark highlighted the harm it will have on minority students.
“I think that it will affect students of color. It will affect Latino students. It will affect women and especially people with special needs of whatever, in terms of denying their identity development,” Clark said. “People will not be able to learn about who they are, why they are and why this is such an issue right now.”
Clark further delved into the topic, emphasizing the effects the move will have on future graduates entering the workforce.
“How can teachers work with primary students in public schools, who [are] largely ethnic [minorities]? Doctors, who do they work with? University Hospital, who do they work with? 67% of our community in San Antonio is Latino,” Clark stated.“The impact, I think, will be that students are not going to feel welcome in higher education if they don’t see a reflection of self in what they study, other than a partisan view of what is presented.
“It’s going to have a negative effect, I think, on whatever discipline or career that students want to pursue, because they won’t be able to deal with the social, economic, socio-cultural factors of the real world.”
This is a developing story that The Paisano will continue to update on.
