A Timeline of the Program
1970s
1971 – President Trabant appoints a committee to study opportunities for women at UD. The committee recommends that a subcommittee begin developing women’s studies courses and research capabilities. As part of their charge the subcommittee develops structural details for a women’s’ studies program.
1972 – An Improvement of Instruction Grant helps develop the first on-campus Women’s Studies course. “Women’s Studies I” offered in Fall, 1972 and is team-taught by nineteen people. Ninety-five students enroll.
Courses
Three classes were offered in Spring of 1972:
- Women in British and American Literature
- Sociology of Sex Roles
- 3-session series to get ready for employment
By Spring of 1973, 12 classes were offered
1973-74 – The Women’s Studies Interdisciplinary Program is formalized and the position of coordinator of Women’s Studies is created. The director of the Program is designated a full time faculty position. The first UD Commission on the Status of Women is formed.
1975 – Thirty two faculty serve as members of the Women’s Studies Committee. A staff assistant is hired and a minor is recommended.
1976 – Dean Gouldner sent a core group of faculty members, Margaret Andersen, Gloria Hull, Sandra Harding, Mae Carter, Beth Haslett, Barbara Kelly, Lindy Geis, & Bonnie Scott, on retreat in Lancaster to brainstorm about the future at a time when it was questionable whether the program would continue. The group came back energized with recommendations for needed structural changes.
1978 – The minor is created.
Demographic Information:
1972-73
- 5530 undergraduate women
- 1371 graduate women
- 1797 continuing education women students
- 158 women faculty
- 128 professional women employees
- 849 women staff
- 4 administrative women
- 9837 total women
1975-76
- 6515 Undergraduate Women
- 730 graduate women
- 2051 continuing education women students
- 12 Executive, administrative, and management women
- 163 women faculty
- 141 professional women employees
- 957 women staff
- 10,569 total women
1980s
1980-81 – The structure of Women’s Studies is revamped with a full-time coordinator, a faculty director for the program and a smaller Women’s Studies Advisory Committee.
Courses
The Women’s Studies department held several important discussion series, including “The Outlook of The 1980s” and “Becoming the Action of Our Fate: Black Women Filmmakers Present Their Films.”
1986 – Two half-time faculty positions were created in Women’s Studies Program.
Demographic Information
From 1989-1990 The Women’s Studies Department had 2218 students in 75 classes—up almost 100% from 1984-1985
A Review clipping about the Outlook of the 1980’s discussion series
1990s
1992 – Women’s Studies receives its first computers. These were upgraded in 1995.
Courses
Several new courses were offered in the 90s, including:
- Women and Violence in 1994
- Women and Revolution in Africa in 1998
1993-94 – A major in Women’s Studies is approved. Six majors graduate in the first class.
A 1999 clipping from The Review
2000s
2000 – Two half-time faculty positions upgraded to two full-time continuing non-tenure track positions.
2002 – The “Women in Global Perspectives” Concentration is created.
2002 – Mae Carter, Asst Provost to President Trabant, endows a tenured professorship in Women’s Studies.
2003 – The first Mae and Robert Carter Professor in Women’s Studies appointed.
2006 – The first exclusively Women’s Studies Study Abroad Program is offered, which is also the first University study abroad program ever offered in South Asia.
A Review clipping from when Women’s Studies program received permanent status
2006 – The minor in Sexualities and Gender Studies is created. Women’s Studies moves into its own building. Women’s Studies receives 3-year grant from Provost’s Office to promote university-wide research in women’s studies and gender, thereby strengthening existing ties and fostering new connections and alliances across the campus. The awards are available for undergraduate, graduate, and faculty research. Endowment by Mae & Robert Carter established
2007 – We have more than 75 courses. Enrollments in our classes are at an all time high. The number of students majoring and minoring in Women’s Studies continues to increase. This year we have 78 majors and 151 minors. We have 5 faculty lines in Women’s Studies, 31 core secondary faculty that are housed in other departments committed to teach WOMS courses and 29 associated faculty who cross list their classes with us.
2009 – Women’s Studies Program granted a tenure-track faculty line, resulting in our first tenure track hire.
2010s
2010 – Women’s Studies achieves Departmental status. Core faculty attends Women’s Studies Departmental retreat to discuss strategic plan, including plans for graduate certificate. We offer a major and a minor in Women’s Studies. We have more than 75 courses available for students. We have 8 core faculty members, 31 faculty members with joint appointments, and an additional 25 affiliated faculty members housed in other departments.
The Department of Women’s Studies awarded a grant from Verizon Delaware to start a new undergraduate concentration in domestic violence prevention and services and to prepare students to earn certification in the field. The three-year, $187,000 grant also will allow UD to offer an intensive 10-week summer practicum in which students will work with community agencies throughout Delaware, gaining firsthand experience in such areas as providing services to domestic violence victims.
2012 – The Women’s Studies graduate certificate is approved in Spring 2012. The first class will be an advanced feminist theory course, WOMS 604 “The Theory of Women’s and Gender Studies” to be offered in Fall 2012. Women’s Studies undergoes a name change. As of September 2012, the name will be the Department of Women and Gender Studies.
University of Delaware Women’s Studies Program Timeline
1971 President Trabant appoints a committee to study opportunities for women at UD. The committee recommends that a subcommittee begin developing women’s studies courses and research capabilities. As part of their charge the subcommittee develops structural details for a women’s’ studies program.
1972 An Improvement of Instruction Grant helps develop the first on-campus Women’s Studies course. “Women’s Studies I” offered in Fall, 1972, is team-taught by nineteen people. Ninety-five students enroll.
1973-74 The Women’s Studies Interdisciplinary Program is formalized and the position of coordinator of Women’s Studies is created. The director of the Program is designated a full time faculty position. The first UD Commission on the Status of Women is formed.
1975 Thirty two faculty serve as members of the Women’s Studies Committee. A staff assistant is hired and a minor is recommended.
1976 Dean Gouldner sent a core group of faculty members, Margaret Andersen, Gloria Hull, Sandra Harding, Mae Carter, Beth Haslett, Barbara Kelly, Lindy Geis, & Bonnie Scott, on retreat in Lancaster to brainstorm about the future at a time when it was questionable whether the program would continue. The group came back energized with recommendations for needed structural changes.
1978 The minor is created.
1980-81 The structure of Women’s Studies is revamped with a full-time coordinator, a faculty director for the program and a smaller Women’s Studies Advisory Committee.
1986 Two half-time faculty positions were created in Women’s Studies Program.
1992 Women’s Studies receives its first computers. These were upgraded in 1995.
1993-94 A major in Women’s Studies is approved. Six majors graduate in the first class.
2000 Two half-time faculty positions upgraded to two full-time continuing non-tenure track positions.
2002 The “Women in Global Perspectives” Concentration is created.
2002 Mae Carter, Asst Provost to President Trabant, endows a tenured professorship in Women’s Studies.
2003 The first Mae and Robert Carter Professor in Women’s Studies appointed.
2006 The first exclusively Women’s Studies Study Abroad Program is offered, which is also the first University study abroad program ever offered in South Asia.
2006 The minor in Sexualities and Gender Studies is created. Women’s Studies moves into its own building.
Women’s Studies receives 3-year grant from Provost’s Office to promote university-wide research in women’s studies and gender, thereby strengthening existing ties and fostering new connections and alliances across the campus. The awards are available for undergraduate, graduate, and faculty research. Endowment by Mae & Robert Carter established
2007 We have more than 75 courses. Enrollments in our classes are at an all time high. The number of students majoring and minoring in Women’s Studies continues to increase. This year we have 78 majors and 151 minors. We have 5 faculty lines in Women’s Studies, 31 core secondary faculty that are housed in other departments committed to teach WOMS courses and 29 associated faculty who cross list their classes with us.
2009 Women’s Studies Program granted a tenure-track faculty line, resulting in our first tenure track hire.
2010 Women’s Studies achieves Departmental status. Core faculty attends Women’s Studies Departmental retreat to discuss strategic plan, including plans for graduate certificate. We offer a major and a minor in Women’s Studies. We have more than 75 courses available for students. We have 8 core faculty members, 31 faculty members with joint appointments, and an additional 25 affiliated faculty members housed in other departments.
The Department of Women’s Studies awarded a grant from Verizon Delaware to start a new undergraduate concentration in domestic violence prevention and services and to prepare students to earn certification in the field. The three-year, $187,000 grant also will allow UD to offer an intensive 10-week summer practicum in which students will work with community agencies throughout Delaware, gaining firsthand experience in such areas as providing services to domestic violence victims.
2012 The Women’s Studies graduate certificate is approved in Spring 2012. The first class will be an advanced feminist theory course, WOMS 604 “The Theory of Women’s and Gender Studies” to be offered in Fall 2012.
Women’s Studies undergoes a name change. As of September 2012, the name will be the Department of Women and Gender Studies.
