Faculty Senate unanimously votes to create African American Studies Department

The Academic Senate’s Legislative Assembly unanimously approved Thursday a series of changes that will create the Department of African American Studies at UCLA.

Faculty representatives voted to disestablish the Interdepartmental Program (IDP) in Afro-American Studies, approve the bylaws of the new department and approve the transfer of B.A. and M.A. degree programs from the IDP to the new department. The Executive Board will formalize its vote and send a letter to Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Scott Waugh informing him of the Senate’s actions.

The creation of the Department of African American Studies was supported by Chancellor Gene Block, the dean of social sciences and multiple faculty committees during a yearlong process of deliberation.