Courses on ethnic studies and social justice will soon be required to graduate from California State University after its board of directors Wednesday approved a proposal to add such courses as a three-unit requirement in the nation’s largest public university system.
After six years of developing a plan with a wide range of classes covering ethnic issues and academic studies, the trustees have approved the first changes to the school’s general education curriculum in 40 years.
But some critics want a more limited focus only on ethnic studies, not social justice, which is part of a parallel proposal under consideration by state lawmakers.
The trustees have disagreed with the state Legislature to expand the school system requirements to make ethnic studies a graduation requirement.
WAR “CANCEL CULTURE”? THE STATE OF SAN DIEGO REPEALS THE TEACHER’S STATE OF EMERITON CONDUCT
The trustees’ proposal is much broader than a similar initiative in the California Legislature, which would require California State University campuses beginning in the 2021-2022 academic year to offer courses on race and ethnicity focused on natives American, African American, Asian, and Latino. and Latin Americans. Students would have to take a three credit course to graduate. The State Legislature version does not count social justice classes, only courses focused on certain ethnic studies.
The board’s version allows social justice classes to meet the requirement, leading critics to argue against it because it would allow some students to completely skip ethnic studies if they choose the social justice option.
“It’s based on ethnic studies, but it’s broader, more inclusive, it offers options to students,” California State University Chancellor Timothy White said before voting in favor of the measure.
A meeting of California State University system administrators in Long Beach, California, in 2013. (AP Photo / Reed Saxon, File)
The changes to the university system will take effect in the academic year 2022-2023 and will offer a broader selection of topics than the legislature’s bill, which critics say excludes some areas, including Jewish studies. The trustees said their proposal also explains that students can take social justice courses that explore topics related to the criminal justice system and public health disparities.
The university plan will cost between $ 3 and $ 4 million, while the bill is estimated to need $ 16 million to implement.
The trustees argue that making the government decide on academic requirements is too broad an oversight, with some pointing out that if the Legislature’s proposal becomes law, it could compel students to take two three-credit courses to meet both. requirements.
“The government that specifies a specific curricular area is extremely dangerous,” said Chancellor White. “Let’s not cross that Rubicon.”
However, the legislature’s bill was written by a former San Diego Democrat professor and assemblywoman, Shirley Weber, who said the state government stepped in with its own bill after years of delay in curricular changes at the college.
In this June 10, 2020, file photo, Assemblywoman Shirley Weber, a Democrat from San Diego, speaks at the Sacramento State Capitol, California State University Trustees. Weber, who authored the legislature bill, which could go to Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk as soon as next week for signature, her office said. (AP Photo / Rich Pedroncelli, file)
Weber said the school’s recommendation “does not respond to the challenges we are currently facing, has been rejected by the faculty, and does not have the support of the students.”
He also said that the California College Association supports his bill. The association, which represents 29,000 faculty members at California State University, has said the university’s proposal is too broad, allowing social justice classes when the goal should be to teach students about minority experiences and people of color in the United States.
And state Senator Steven Galzer was quick to voice his support for the trustees vote on Twitter on Wednesday, calling it a “bold move” soon after the measure passed.
“Students must learn the history and traditions of the various racial and ethnic groups that make up our state,” he tweeted.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP
But a handful of trustees voted against the board’s proposal, arguing it doesn’t go far enough or disagree with the fact that social justice courses could be used in place of ethnic studies.
“This is not a requirement for ethnic studies,” said Silas Abrego, another administrator, who voted against the proposal because he prefers the Weber bill.
Trustee Lateefah Simon also voted against the bill, criticizing its “social justice umbrella” as a means of avoiding giving up “ethnic studies curricula.”
“The requirement for the way it is written will be an ethnic studies course or a social justice course,” Abrego said at a committee meeting on the proposal Tuesday, as reported by the Los Angeles Times. “That gives him the freedom so that a student never takes an ethnic studies course.”
Once the Legislature bill passes the state assembly, it will still require the signature of Governor Gavin Newsom, who has the final say.
Associated Press contributed to this report.
