College of Letters and Science Faculty Document No. 712
October 13, 2005

Certificate Program in Ethnic Studies
Annual Report
2004-2005

1. Ethnic Studies Advisory Committee
   1. Membership: John Gleeson, Celtic Studies; Greg Jay, English/Cultures & Communities Program; Enrique Figueroa, Roberto Hernández Center; Dao Vang, Advising; Sandra Jones, Cultures and Communities Program; Kris Ruggiero, History/Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies, Steve McKay, Sociology; Rachel Buff, Program Coordinator (ex-officio).
      
      
   2. The Committee met twice, on March 14 and April 28, 2005.
      
      
2. Major issues considered by the committee
   1. The central issues the committee considered this year involved the re-tooling of the Ethnic Studies 101-102 sequence and the staffing of other courses in the Program. The Committee reviewed title and description changes for Ethnic Studies 101 and 102, as well as a name change for the program, to Comparative Ethnic Studies. The changes for 102 and the name change have been approved by the APCC; changes to 101 are pending.
   2. The Committee approved the buyout of Joe Austin, History, to develop an Ethnic Studies 102 course for AY 2006-07. This will free up Dr. Buff for additional course development.
   3. This year, the Committee plans to tackle the issue of affiliated courses and faculty, in an effort to develop the Program further. The Committee will review the courses that have been approved to count toward the Ethnic Studies certificate.
      
      
3. Program activities
   1. The Program co-sponsored speakers in History and, through Roberto Hernández Center, for Cinco de Mayo.
      
      
4. Status of certificate program
   1. Students: three enrolled; two graduated AY 2004-05.
   2. Changes in requirements: Students now may take both Ethnic 101 and 102 for GER credit.
   3. Effectiveness of committee's role: The committee was crucial in redefining the role of Ethnic Studies 101-102.
   4. Future plans: Plans include overhauling the Program; strengthening the Program's alliance with Cultures and Communities; working with the new Hmong Studies Initiative to broaden course offerings; developing Ethnic Studies 201 and 202 for Humanities and Social Science GER credit, respectively.
      
      
      

Respectfully submitted,

Rachel Buff, Coordinator
Ethnic Studies Program