Lucero Soto: What’s going on with Chicano Studies courses at UC?

I am writing to bring light to the Chicano Studies minor at UC Merced. I am one of the students who declared this as a minor and I am proud of the liberating decolonization of my mind.

I am concerned with the lack of resources the campus provides students in these studies. Many assume that this minor was implemented when the UC opened. In reality, students demanded a minor if a major was not accepted. There are limited classes provided each semester and, sadly, for Spring 2016 there are no courses listed in the catalog. According to the student advising website, they claim they are trying to increase the number of students in the minor while checking the Fall 2014 semester for program assessment results.

It is near the end of the Fall 2015 semester and there are no updates regarding the minor. There has been no effort to bring awareness that this minor is available. This saddens and frustrates me. UC Merced was designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution but fails at fulfilling its responsibilities. I am concerned not only for myself but for future students. UC Merced cannot continue to receive this recognition when the minor does not grow.

This story was originally published December 10, 2015 at 2:12 PM with the headline "Lucero Soto: What’s going on with Chicano Studies courses at UC?."