Page 10
C AREERS Special
Edition
April 21, 2021
PSU Proposes Race
Studies Mandate
C onTinued from f ronT
Oregon, in 2019 Vermont and
Washington passed similar laws,
and a new Connecticut law re-
quires high schools to offer an
ethnic-studies class by 2022.
Washington Education Asso-
ciation President Kim Mead said
these efforts are important for mi-
nority students.
“We know that when students
see themselves, and their expe-
riences and cultures in the class-
room, they are more engaged in
learning, which translates to aca-
demic success,” she said.
Johnson said the Faculty Senate
was presented with two motions,
one to have race and ethnic stud-
ies for all students by offering a
domestic course that focuses on
racism in the United States, and
an international course on colonial
racism in Europe.
The second motion concerns the
makeup of the committee that will
design the race and ethnic studies
curriculum. Johnson said it should be
composed primarily of faculty from
the School of Gender, Race and Na-
tions, which includes Black Studies;
Indigenous Nations Studies; Wom-
en, Gender and Sexuality Studies;
and Chicano/Latino Studies.
“We are the experts in the field
of race and ethnic studies, which
is what we do throughout our de-
partments,” he said. “Others can
be on the committee, but we argue
that other departments don’t solely
focus on race and ethnic issues.”
Some, he said, are concerned
about pushback from students
who don’t want to take a race
and ethnic studies course, John-
son said, so his proposal includes
more support for professors.
“Professors may have to deal
with students who lack knowledge
or just don’t think they should
have to take the course,” he said.
To ease the burden on professors,
the proposal is recommending that
teaching race and ethnicity classes
count toward a professor’s teach-
ing load and tenure.
Johnson said there is strong
student support for the proposal
across the school, including the
Associated Students of Portland
State University.
“We think this will make Port-
land State a more attractive place
for those interested in race and
ethnic studies, but also to students
who are Black, indigenous or peo-
ple of color, too,” he said.