Part of it would include mandating students take a "Race, Power, and Justice" course.
Students would choose a focus area in the "Race, Power, and Justice" course. It would be a focus in equity, environment, civic life, or wellbeing.
A committee made up of students, faculty and advisors wrote these proposed revisions after it was requested by the provost and the university’s education policy committee, according to The College Fix.
The Fix's Associate Editor Matt Lamb explained what his team has found.
"This mandate, as well as other changes to the curriculum that's going to focus more on identity politics and social issues, has drawn criticism from multiple faculty at the school. So, for example, one professor was critical of the requirements because it actually gets rid of the literature requirement. And he teaches literature. So, they have all these faculty that teach literature and composition classes, and a lot of these courses, he's assuming, will be shifted to adjuncts."
Lamb mentioned another instructor saying these requirements will send the message to students that the college might be too liberal. He's concerned about the political backlash.
Lamb said this new proposal has been in the works for several years, saying this Race Power and Justice mandate came following George Floyd's death. It happened near the university.
“So in many ways, though, this this is now already outdated. Bureaucracy can take a few years. But now there's been a backlash in many ways to DEI. President Trump has had executive orders, and more executive orders and directives are likely to come out against DEI. Now, this course itself wouldn't necessarily violate those because it doesn't exclude anyone, but I think it would probably draw further scrutiny to the college if they're forcing students to take these classes."
Another professor expressed concern that students might feel coerced to adopt a certain viewpoint. Lamb said that can happen when you have classes that are obviously very political in nature.
