Northwestern University to end African studies program

According to The Purple Wire, two sources at the university said administrators informed staff that the program would end at the end of August. One staff member said that staff was not given a reason for the closing.

A university spokesperson, however, said that the program was “not closed” but is instead “in a period of transition away from status as an Office for Research university-wide research institute and center.” The spokesperson added that the university is “committed to continued support for all facets of African Studies, including undergraduate and graduate education as well as research.”

“They told us that the center is closing, so all staff are being laid off because there will be no center to employ you,” a staffer said.

Questions have also been raised on whether Northwestern’s Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences could take responsibility for continuing the program.

“It makes sense to have the program in Weinberg but it seems no one could agree on how to move it within the university administratively,” the staff member said.

Will Reno, a Northwestern political science department chair and professor, explained that two staff members of the program were being fired at the end of the month.

“Normally, if you fire somebody, you’ve got to at least give them a heads-up. You’ve got certain rights,” Reno said, according to the Chicago Sun Times. “But if a program that they’re attached to is closing, you can tell these people, ‘I’m sorry, the thing that you had a job at doesn’t exist.’”

The announcement comes as many universities across the country are restructuring or eliminating programs associated with diversity, equity, and inclusion. The Trump administration has also taken steps to restrict DEI initiatives at federally funded institutions. Northwestern, however, has not said that the transition is connected to federal DEI policy changes.

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