The Spire

Kaitlyn Richards ‘29

Chief News Editor

The College of the Holy Cross’ Deaf Studies and Sign Languages (DFST) program was moved from the Department of World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures (WLLC) to the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies (CIS) on July 1, prompting concerns from the program’s faculty about shared governance, departmental affiliation, and the program’s long-term sustainability at the College.

The move transferred the DFST minor, two continuing non-tenure-track (CNTT) senior lecturers, and one teaching assistant from WLLC to CIS. In a statement, program co-directors Professors Stephanie Clark and Ying Li, alongside Justice for Contingents, a faculty advocacy campaign focused on improving the security, equity, and transparency of contingent faculty working conditions, raised concerns about the transfer. Clark and Li, both CNTT faculty members, said they were not consulted during the decision-making process.

In response, the Academic Governance Council (AGC) unanimously passed a resolution on Sept. 29 calling on the administration to pause the transfer and consult the Committee on Academic Programs (CAP) and the Committee on the Curriculum, according to the Oct. 19 statement. The resolution also asked the administration to report back to the AGC on those consultations.

In a statement to The Spire, the Department of Deaf Studies and Sign Language acknowledged the concerns for accessibility to the area of study. The department states that “The impact of the move to the CIS has been negative for the students and faculty members.  For example, there are over 100 students on Professor Li’s wait list to take DFST 101 – Elementary ASL.”  To meet students’ desire to take the courses,  “requests for a third visiting faculty to provide additional DFST 101 courses were denied by administration for the second year in a row due to ‘financial constraints’.”

The Deaf Studies and Sign Language urge the administration to “follow the AGC resolution and have an open dialogue on the DFST curriculum and why the program should remain in WLLC.” The DFST faculty argue that they should be involved in the consultation process with all stakeholders, “including the Committee on Academic Programs, the Curriculum Committee, and the AGC.  An open and transparent deliberation that includes Deaf Studies and Sign Languages faculty should have been done from the beginning.”

The co-directors also expressed concern that moving DFST out of WLLC could weaken the program’s recognition as a language program alongside those focused on spoken and written languages. Recently, other colleges and universities have begun to transition their sign language courses and programs into their WLLC program. The sign language community has worked hard to educate others about the importance of housing sign language programs under a language, literature, and culture department. The department believes that moving the DFST minor into CIS is a huge step backward.

Currently, the DFST does not have a departmental affiliation under CIS. They believe that “losing colleagues and department meetings to discuss World Language, Literature, and Culture is detrimental to Deaf Faculty members. WLLC was the right department to have that dialogue about the DFST programs, as all WLLC programs share common themes. DFST faculty are more isolated now.”

“As for Justice for Contingents, the issues now confronting our DFST colleagues are consistent with a dangerous and ongoing pattern of administrative behavior here at Holy Cross,” said the group. Justice for Contingents believes that “moving DFST from WLLC to CIS without consulting with the DFST Program Directors shows that the administration believes they can ignore us. Such behavior directly affronts the principles of shared governance that Holy Cross holds dear. Such an affront is bad for faculty of all ranks, but especially for contingents, since our workplace security, equity, and transparency issues are greatest.”

In response to faculty concerns, the Office of the Provost expressed to The Spire that the move followed a review of continuing non-tenure-track (CNTT) positions conducted by WLLC. The department’s tenured faculty voted to recommend relocating the DFST CNTT positions outside the department based on curricular and enrollment needs, and the Provost’s Office approved the request.

The administration said the transition is intended to provide DFST with “an interdisciplinary home” and “greater agency in pursuing its academic priorities,” while maintaining continuity in the program’s curriculum.

The Provost’s Office said the move does not change the program’s curriculum, requirements, or staffing. DFST can request staffing and resources through the same process as other CIS programs, the office said, adding that its priority is to ensure students can complete their program requirements.

Regarding the AGC’s Sept. 29 resolution calling for a pause in the transfer and further consultation, the Provost’s Office said it would communicate its response directly to the council by Nov. 6. Dean of Faculty Aaron Seider also plans to attend an upcoming Committee on Academic Programs meeting to answer questions and discuss support for DFST.

The office said it is “fully committed to helping the Deaf Studies and Sign Languages program thrive” in CIS and looks forward to collaborating with program faculty and the CIS director on the program’s long-term goals.

As the administration prepares its response to the AGC resolution by Nov. 6, the future of the DFST program’s administrative placement remains under discussion. While the Provost’s Office said it looks forward to collaborating with program faculty and the CIS director to support the program’s long-term goals, DFST faculty continue to call for greater transparency and meaningful involvement in decisions affecting their own program.