Africana Studies here to stay
Rechelle Jackson
Staff Reporter
Issue date: 4/2/07 Section: Campus News
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University officials have dispelled all rumors that the Africana Studies department will soon be axed due to the program's low number of graduates.
"That is absolutely untrue," TSU President Melvin N. Johnson said of the 13-year old program.
Amiri Yasin Al-Hadid, department head for Africana Studies and co-author of Between Cross and Crescent: Christian and Muslim Perspectives on Malcolm and Martin, said there are currently about 1,000 students enrolled in some level of an Africana Studies course.
TSU's fall 2006 enrollment was 9,038.
"The Africana Studies program is not going anywhere," Al-Hadid said. "Do not believe the hype. I have no idea where that came from and there is absolutely no truth to it."
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Currently, there are eight students - all black - majoring in Africana Studies, according to the fall 2006 university fact book.
The program has the fourth lowest number of students pursing a degree from its department. Hospitality and tourism administration, school psychology and home economics education each have one student, according to the fact book.
The TSU nursing program has the most majors, as of fall 2006 with 1,091.
Faculty hopes to increase that number of students within the Africana Studies program during the upcoming years and Al- Hadid has a plan to achieve this goal
"In order to reach the vision, we must establish that this department is needed, create an affiliate faculty, cross list the departments so that when a student takes an African, English or history class it will be a part of the Africana Studies Department, (and we must) value and celebrate our culture more."
TSU offered its first Africana Studies courses in the fall of 1994, according to the department's Web site.
The department is the lone Africana Studies program of its nature in the Southeast and one of three at historically black colleges and university, according to tnstate.edu/africanastudies/.
Al-Hadid said he feels that having Africana Studies programs at a HBCUs Historically are "mission essential," meaning it is almost mandatory to be offered.
"That is absolutely untrue," TSU President Melvin N. Johnson said of the 13-year old program.
Amiri Yasin Al-Hadid, department head for Africana Studies and co-author of Between Cross and Crescent: Christian and Muslim Perspectives on Malcolm and Martin, said there are currently about 1,000 students enrolled in some level of an Africana Studies course.
TSU's fall 2006 enrollment was 9,038.
"The Africana Studies program is not going anywhere," Al-Hadid said. "Do not believe the hype. I have no idea where that came from and there is absolutely no truth to it."
.
Currently, there are eight students - all black - majoring in Africana Studies, according to the fall 2006 university fact book.
The program has the fourth lowest number of students pursing a degree from its department. Hospitality and tourism administration, school psychology and home economics education each have one student, according to the fact book.
The TSU nursing program has the most majors, as of fall 2006 with 1,091.
Faculty hopes to increase that number of students within the Africana Studies program during the upcoming years and Al- Hadid has a plan to achieve this goal
"In order to reach the vision, we must establish that this department is needed, create an affiliate faculty, cross list the departments so that when a student takes an African, English or history class it will be a part of the Africana Studies Department, (and we must) value and celebrate our culture more."
TSU offered its first Africana Studies courses in the fall of 1994, according to the department's Web site.
The department is the lone Africana Studies program of its nature in the Southeast and one of three at historically black colleges and university, according to tnstate.edu/africanastudies/.
Al-Hadid said he feels that having Africana Studies programs at a HBCUs Historically are "mission essential," meaning it is almost mandatory to be offered.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Angie Ali
posted 4/02/07 @ 8:21 AM CST
I never heard the rumor, but I'm pleased to know it's not true. I took a few Africana Studies courses at TSU that made me more culturally and community conscious. (Continued…)
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