The University of Texas at San Antonio will consolidate its current department of Race, Ethnicity, Gender, and Sexuality into the Department of Bi-Lingual and Bi-Cultural studies.
As first reported by the San Antonio Express News, the move will take effect on September 1.
The current department promotes a “diasporic, decolonial and intersectional approach toward the study of race, ethnicity, gender and sexuality in education, humanities, music and the arts, and the social sciences.”
It claims to be “dedicated to preparing students to be agents of change who will positively transform society.”
The consolidation impacts three academic programs: African-American Studies, Mexican-American Studies, and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies.
UTSA officials told local media this reorganization will not “immediately” impact staffing.
This development follows a similar action at the UT System’s flagship campus in Austin. UT-Austin announced its own consolidation two weeks ago.
UTSA has not announced a review of course content in the new department. UT-Austin is currently undertaking such a review.
Texas A&M and Texas Tech have pursued parallel measures at their institutions.
UT-Austin and UT-San Antonio are component institutions of the University of Texas System. The UT System is overseen by a Board of Regents appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Texas Senate. Kevin Eltife of Tyler is the current board chairman.
