Ethnic, justice CSU mandate

Students in the California State University system will be required to take a course in ethnic studies or social justice under a new general education requirement approved Wednesday by the Board of Trustees.

The rule marks the first major change to the 23campus university system’s general education requirements in 40 years. It will go into effect in the 202324 academic school year to give faculty time to plan, officials said.

“It will empower our students to meet this

moment in our nation’s history, giving them the knowledge, broad perspectives and skills needed to solve society’s most pressing problems. And it will further strengthen the value of a CSU degree,” said CSU Chancellor Timothy White in a statement.

Ethnic studies comprises African American, Asian American, Latino and Indigenous studies. San Francisco State University established the first College of Ethnic Studies in 1969. Other CSU schools have departments dedicated to studying the field.

The onecourse requirement could be fulfilled with a broad array of courses that focus on historical or current ethnic studies or social justice issues.

“The requirement advances a unique focus on the intersection and comparative study of race, ethnicity, class, gender, sexuality, religion, immigration status, ability and/or age,” officials said. “CSU courses on Africana literature, Native Californian perspectives, police reform, disparities in public health and the economics of racism, to name just a few, would meet the new requirement.”

The expansive possibility of courses, however, was a matter of dispute.

In a statement released after the vote, the California Faculty Association said it was “severely disappointed,” calling the new requirement “diluted.”

“How the board can look at anyone with a straight face and say that an Ethnic Studies requirement can be fulfilled without ever having to take a course in Ethnic Studies is beyond believable,” said Charles Toombs, president of the association, in a statement.

Toombs said CSU officials failed to meet with or listen to input from the CSU Council of Ethnic Studies, the CSU Academic Senate or faculty members who are experts in the discipline.

“The lack of consultation with the CSU Council of Ethnics Studies is deplorable and disrespectful of these faculty experts,” Toombs said. “Moreover, since the overwhelming number of Ethnic Studies faculty are people of color, the lack of inclusion of their expert voices is a potent and real example of how systemic racism works in the CSU.”

The faculty association instead supports a bill advancing through the California Legislature, AB1460, that would require students to take one course in the traditional field of ethnic studies.