Multiple deans to lead CLS program
By Heather Guenther (Last updated: 10/13/09 11:45pm)Oversight of the Chicano/Latino Studies program is shifting after a recent administrative restructuring.
College of Social Science Dean Marietta Baba said she no longer is the only person responsible for overseeing CLS and its director, Sheila Contreras.
In a Sept. 24 memorandum, Provost Kim Wilcox recommended moving the program’s supervision from the College of Social Science to a group of six college deans, including Baba. Several deans said a date has not been set for the group’s first meeting.
“The provost recognized that it is a challenge to have responsibility for a program whose faculty and students are not only in one dean’s college, but across several colleges,” Baba said. “This goes beyond the College of Social Science.”
A closed-door meeting among MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon and a group of CLS faculty, graduate and undergraduate students concerned about Contreras and Baba’s oversight of the program is scheduled Wednesday.
Baba will be joined in the program’s new administration by deans of the colleges of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Arts and Letters, Communication Arts and Sciences, Residential College in the Arts and Humanities and James Madison College.
In the memorandum, Wilcox said he believes the future of CLS hinges on whether officials can increase and broaden its student and faculty participation.
“I want to thank Dean Baba for her work over the past few years in advocating for faculty and student support. … The future of the program, however, seems tied to broader participation,” he said.
Including multiple people in the guidance of CLS is not a new concept for program officials.
CLS operated with two directors — one in charge of the graduate program and the other responsible for the undergraduate program — until about 2008. An Academic Program Review committee recommended eliminating the graduate program position because of the confusion it caused for central administrators, Baba said.
But CLS officials don’t expect to see similar confusion stemming from the new administrative structure.
Contreras said including more college deans in the oversight of CLS makes it easier to attract more faculty members to the program.
Contreras has met with Baba at least once a month to discuss CLS since beginning a three-year contract in 2008. Contreras said she doesn’t know whether she will meet with the group or each dean individually.
“One of my primary objectives has always been to broaden participation in the Chicano/Latino Studies program, so this seems to me a big move in that direction,” Contreras said.
Several departments and academic programs include cross-college administration, according to the memorandum. No specific programs were mentioned. Wilcox could not be reached for comment.
Originally Published: 10/12/09 11:53pm
CLS STUDENT
10/13/09 8:50amContreras is doing a great job!
Tezcatlipoca
10/13/09 10:21amThere still are some CLS students left? loved the all caps btw
Kacike
10/13/09 3:25pmSolely my opinions and observations on all of this….
As a Latino student I just hope all these changes lead CLS to incorporate more of its “Latino” component. It has been too Chicano centric up until the recent past and Iâd rather just do the Latin American & Caribbean Studies Specialization if this doesn’t change. Being that the L.A.C.S.
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Tezcatlipoca
10/13/09 5:52pmKacike,
Thank you for your thoughtful post. While I don’t agree with all your points I wouldn’t describe it as a rant. I think you make some valid criticisms.
Good luck with your projects.
Not a Mexican
10/13/09 10:57pmto reduce the headace that is caused by this miniscule program why not drop the entire program. then the SN could find something else to write about. the administration would also benefit from fewer useless protests around campus. if you want a mentor then look to one of the many hispanic student groups.
Diversity
10/14/09 12:07amKacike,
...I agree with some of your suggestions, however I want to make clear with you CLS program has not fully develop it Latino Studies section of the program. I agree we need to develop the Latino Studies section but changing the name is not solution. I think one of goals for RCLS is the have a discussion to develop more Latino Studies courses.
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MbE
10/14/09 8:05amNOW you care about “Latino” that you are running out of Xicano support?
University Support
10/14/09 9:45amThis move by the Provost shows that their is strong support not only for the program, but for Dr. Contreras. Since this is an interdisciplinary program involving more than one college, the move makes sense and, is probably long overdue. In fact, this model is not unheard of interdisciplinary programs in this and other universities.
Tezcatlipoca
10/14/09 11:55amMbE,
No, you are erecting a strawman and making a false premise.
University Support,
actually no, It could just as easily show that Dean Baba and Contreras have bungled the job of running this program over the last year and a half.
Tezcatlipoca
10/14/09 11:59amâOne of my primary objectives has always been to broaden participation in the Chicano/Latino Studies program, so this seems to me a big move in that direction,â Contreras said.
Win-Win? Contreras was just in Chicago at the start of October…
Open Position Director, Latina and Latino Studies Program, Northwestern University Northwestern University solicits nominations and applications for the position of Director of its newly-established Latina and Latino Studies Program.
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Xicana Soldier
10/14/09 12:47pmsheila contreras: failed
dean baba: failed
ruben martinez: failed
THAT is why they set up a committee of deans.
Sheila is incompetant…her great mentor ruben martinez is incompetent (so much so that he has to put his name on other people’s work)….and dean baba is incompetent.
Sheila has FPAC that is supposed to be guiding her, and now a committee of deans. How many people is it going to take to help her do her job? If that is not a sign of incompetence, please tell me what is.
wow
10/14/09 1:17pmJust when I thought we had moved to civil discourse Xicana Soldier has to pull it back into personal attacks.
finger points
10/14/09 1:18pmXicana Soldier: failed.
You’ve tried for a year to oust the director. Seems like under your definition you have failed too.
Transfer
10/14/09 1:26pmIf you are upset with MSU, why don’t you transfer to the University of Michigan.
http://www.lsa.umich.edu/ac/latina
No one is holding you captive at MSU! If all the students transferred that would send a signal to the administration.
DON’T BE AFRAID TO VOTE WITH YOUR FEET. WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU AT UM!
Re: Transfer
10/14/09 2:14pmInteresting thought Transfer. That is a way to make a statement about a program and may be the right solution for some. Some things to consider if you want to transfer:
1) Do they have your major?
2) Will you get accepted to the school and the major?
3) How many MSU credits would transfer?
4) How will this affect any student aid you have?
5) U of M’s minority enrollment is down. See http://www.detnews.com/article/20091013/SCHOOLS/910130385/1026/U-M-reports-record-enrollment—but-minorities-decline
Tezcatlipoca
10/14/09 2:58pmTransfer,
See my post above. There is a job opening for Contreras at Northwestern. The area has a large and diverse Latino population. There are a multitude of prestigious universities in the greater metropolitan area for her husband to seek employment at should such a move prove enticing. As a self described leading Chican@ activist she shouldn’t limit herself to the small pond at MSU. She has options.