Implementing a diversity requirement within the general
education curriculum at UCLA may soon become a reality as faculty
members of the UCLA College will be the first to vote on the
finalized proposal beginning today.
Already existing at the other eight UC undergraduate campuses,
the idea to implement such a requirement at UCLA was first
introduced 17 years ago.
Faculty members will be voting online Dec. 6 through Dec. 17 on
the proposal which would require students to take one course in any
of the three foundation areas that thoroughly address issues within
diversity.
The requirement would be part of, rather than in addition to,
the existing GE requirements.
“(It’s) hard to predict how the faculty will vote. A
good portion of the faculty are favorable of the vote,” said
Tom Minor, an associate professor in the psychology department and
member of the Undergraduate Council, which is part of the Academic
Senate.
Though many are in favor, Minor said there are still faculty
members who are opposed to the idea, believing that it is not
necessary.
Student leaders, who went as far as camping out for three nights
last year in hopes of gaining the support of the Academic Senate
leadership, believe it is important that faculty members vote in
favor of the requirement.
“We had a commitment from the Academic Senate that it
would be implemented by fall 2005,” said Eligio Martinez,
Academic Affairs commissioner for the Undergraduate Students
Association Council. “I am confident that it will get
approved. A lot of work was put in by both students and faculty
““ I don’t see why it shouldn’t be approved right
now.”
Votes will be tallied and the results will be announced Dec.
20.
If the proposal is approved and ratified by the Academic Senate,
it will go into effect beginning fall 2005.
Accompanying the proposal is a preliminary list of courses that
would satisfy the requirement. If passed, a finalized and official
version of the list must be compiled.
According to the Diversity Proposal Review by the General
Education Governance in July 2004, an expected 30-40 percent of the
courses listed in the foundation areas of arts and humanities, and
society and culture “will eventually qualify for diversity
credit.”
While only the faculty members of the UCLA College will be
voting on this proposal today, the two other schools intended to
participate in the curriculum revision ““ the School of Arts
and Architecture and the School of Theatre, Film and Television
““ will vote at a later date.