Administrative/Biographical History
The Women's Studies Program began in 1976 through the efforts of a planning committee of students, faculty, and staff. The Board of Regents approved the interdisciplinary minor in 1979-80 and it began operating in 1981 through the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. A graduate level concentration was approved in 1991. The director's position is an eleven-month, halftime position held by a faculty member from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Faculty from many departments, as well as off-campus experts, guest lecture or team teach. Guided by an advisory committee composed of faculty from different disciplines, staff, and students, the program seeks to encourage critical inquiry, reflection, and self-expression in its curriculum while promoting tolerance for diverse views and sources of knowledge. The program maintains a close liaison with the Office of University Resources for Women, and the women's studies staff maintains connections with other campus and community groups concerned with women's issues and status. In addition to offering courses, the Women's Studies Program provides a variety of events and programs designed to promote knowledge about women's experiences and the effects of gender in society.
The University Resources for Women was established in May 1979 by acting Provost Wendell Harris. It operates and is funded within the Division of International and Special Programs. The Board of Regents established URW as a permanent entity in the Spring of 1980. The major objectives of URW are to facilitate the re-entry of the mature woman into the university, to provide a centrally located facility for women students, to coordinate existing programming for women on the campus, and to support the recruitment and retention of older, adult women who are potential or enrolled students. University Resources for Women is headed by a full-time director who holds membership on several university committees to provide feedback about women's needs.
