The University of Akron offers over 300 undergraduate majors to its students; however, a degree in Pan-African Studies is not among them.
Although there is no degree offered, the campus does include the Pan-African Center for Community Studies. The center, established in 1973 as The Black Culture Center, was created in response to demands from Black United Students for the University to recognize the African American community.
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The University of Akron offers over 300 undergraduate majors to its students; however, a degree in Pan-African Studies is not among them.
Although there is no degree offered, the campus does include the Pan-African Center for Community Studies. The center, established in 1973 as The Black Culture Center, was created in response to demands from Black United Students for the University to recognize the African American community.
President of the history honors society Phi Alpha Theta, Campus Life Affairs Director of Associated Student Government, and upcoming graduating senior Kevin Waklatsi is doing something to change all of this.
Pan-African Studies here does not offer a major or a minor and I have a big issue with that because there are schools here [in Ohio] that have an African-American percentage that is a lot less than what we have here at The University of Akron, Waklatsi said.
Two years ago, Waklatsi began actively researching the 13 Ohio Public Institutions to see whether they offer either a major or a minor in Pan-African Studies. He found that 10 out of the 13 institutions offer both a major and minor, another offers a minor alone, and only two, including the University, offered neither.
I think that currently students are aware of the lack of resources within the department. Classes aren’t taught consistently, there are few full-time professors, and they are usually special interest classes, Waklatsi said. The issue is how many students are actually taking the classes and receiving the certificate; and students don’t necessarily see a return on their very sizable investment.
To open up discussion on this issue and establish change, Waklatsi submitted a seven-page proposal to the Provost and Dean of Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences, requesting the creation of a Pan-African Studies Department offering a major and minor. The proposal was coupled with a petition with a little over 4,000 signatures, and the ASG Senate, which at the time of the vote was included two African-Americans out of 17 total individuals, unanimously voted for the change.
The University has been very cooperative in hearing my proposal and we are moving forward, and I just want to raise student awareness about the issue, said Waklatsi.
Very passionate about this topic, Waklatsi believes that the development of such a department would improve graduation retention rates, help some students retrieve an identity that has been lost to them and open students up to the many career paths one could follow should they attain the degree.
Waklatsi is openly reaching out to all campus organizations for their support. Students can view the proposal in the ASG office.
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