Kennesaw State University in Georgia has recently eliminated three academic departments including its Black studies program, according to a recent report from The Atlanta Voice.
In an email to the campus community, Dr. Catherine Kaukinen, dean of the Norman J. Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Kennesaw State University, informed faculty and students that the departments of Black studies, philosophy, and technical communication will close and no longer offer bachelor’s degrees in these disciplines. The reasons given for the programs’ elimination are consistently low enrollment and degree output over the past 10 years and a need for the university to make the most out of its “limited resources.”
The university’s Black studies program has existed for 20 years. According to the most recent federal data, Black students represent roughly 26 percent of Kennesaw State’s 45,000 undergraduate students.
For students currently majoring in Black studies, philosophy, and technical communication, the university will provide a “2-year teach-in plan” that allows these students to complete their program of study. The faulty and staff associated with the eliminated programs will keep their jobs, and the university will continue offering courses in these disciplines for minors, electives, and general education.
In addition to student and faculty demands that the programs be reinstated, representatives from the Georgia NAACP have spoken out against the university’s decision to eliminate its Black studies degree program.
“The Georgia NAACP believes Kennesaw State should understand the importance of preserving Black Studies – not just as a major, but as a vital framework for truth, equity, and critical thinking,” Georgia NAACP President Gerald Griggs told The Atlanta Voice. “This program affirms the value of Black voices, past and present, and equips all students to engage with history, culture, and justice in meaningful ways.”
