Currently, he three programs are not departmentalized, causing them to draw instructors from other sources. CAAS and the other programs must rely on University departments in order to procure faculty. For example, if CAAS expresses interest in a political science professor, it must approach the department to get that professor into one of the center's courses. As a result, the center is dependent on outside departments to survive - seriously threatening its autonomy. CAAS and the other programs are at the mercy of department heads - causing significant friction if a department from which CAAS wants an instructor follows a different philosophy than the center. In addition, many of the professors associated with the programs have obligations to their respective departments, forcing the programs' educational goals to be secondary.
Women's Studies, Afro-American and African Studies, and American Culture deserve the respect that departmentalized programs receive. The past two decades have proven that these studies are valuable and contribute greatly to the goals of a liberal arts education. The programs demand at least the ability to hire and promote their own faculty. There are few graduate degree options in the programs' academic areas - hence, there are few professors available with a background in these areas. As a result, it becomes difficult to keep faculty loyal to the smaller programs rather than their home department. A history professor teaching an American Culture class will remain committed to the history department and may not want to switch over to an entirely new area of study.
To departmentalize is controversial - many inside the programs are opposed to becoming a department. By drawing from numerous departments, CAAS and other studies provide a more varied learning environment. With professors from many of the major fields of study, CAAS and the others benefit from the different philosophies and experiences of each faculty member. Instead of limiting themselves to one outlook, these programs are able to form a conglomeration of studies that provides a well-rounded education.
Afro-American and African Studies, Women's Studies and American Culture are established fields of study and research - the University should give them the ability to hire and promote faculty. The University hinders these fields' growth and the continuation of a strong liberal arts program by limiting crucial practices. The University prohibits these fields from shaping their own future by not affording these studies a certain amount of sovereignty. The ability to hire and promote is a key aspect to the advancement of any field, especially ones that have risen to the programs' level of academic recognition. It is time to facilitate these fields in any way possible - hiring and promoting faculty offers a viable beginning.