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.