The most recent education major proposal, which was first proposed in October 2024 and has been under review since then, was rejected by the Faculty Council’s Academic Planning Committee (APC) in an email Feb. 28, according to Professor of Education Ronald Solórzano. Solórzano said that he and other education department professors hope to meet with the deans and the APC to discuss the decision in the coming weeks.
“We’re not sure what happens when [the proposal] finally gets in the APC room,” Solórzano said. “And I’m not sure why our colleagues are — instead of trying to figure out what is needed to make this happen — [giving] a hard ‘no,’ and that’s tough.”
According to Solórzano, in Spring 2024, the department planned the proposal with an advisory committee that included both associate deans at the time. Solórzano said the deans believed the proposal was ready to go.
“We’re really wondering why the pushback is so heavy on this particular major, especially after we’ve planned with the deans,” Solórzano said.
Solórzano said one issue that has come up in earlier stages of the proposal was the inclusion or omission of a teacher credentialing pathway. While the current proposal does not include a teacher credentialing program, he said the department would be happy to include it if the APC requested it.
“Basically, we’re asking the Academic Planning Committee, ‘Is that what you’re asking for?’” Solórzano said. “Our peer groups and aspiration groups who have education majors, some of them have a pathway to credential, others don’t.”
In addition to credentialing, Solórzano said there have been concerns about the structure of the major and the courses that would be included. He said the department has tried to make the courses as pertinent as possible to current education issues, such as centering the content on social justice and critical race theory.
“It’s relevant, especially today — Trump is dismantling the Department of Education,” Solórzano said. “And here we are at Oxy struggling to increase and improve our department of education, and we’re feeling like ‘Yeah, no one’s getting it.’ They’re not getting why it’s important to have an education department and major more now than ever.”
Solórzano said the more recent major additions he has seen during his tenure have not seemed to receive the same scrutiny over their course suggestions.
“No one questioned the computer science or Black studies structure of their major courses, or they deferred to those faculty,” Solórzano said. “That’s their discipline. They know their discipline.”
Another factor considered in the APC’s decision-making is student interest, according to Interim Associate Dean for Curricular Affairs and APC chair Brandon Lehr.
“[Major] proposals should include a projection of potential student interest, with evidence (such as student letters, surveys, pilot programs, etc.),” Lehr said via email.
Solórzano said that in the nine semesters the education minor has been running, the two required courses have typically had 15 to 19 students, with the elective courses also maintaining consistent enrollment.
“Right now, students are wondering, ‘What are we going to do about this?’ because they are supporting the major,” Solórzano said.
ASOC Senate Director of Academic Affairs Siena Jarrin (senior) said a group of students including education minors and members of ASOC’s Academic Affairs Committee, is currently working on a petition to express support for the proposal following its rejection. Jarrin said they will also lead efforts to table on the Academic Quad and at student events with the petition to inform the student body about the APC’s decision.
“We want to be heard, and we will do what it takes to do that,” Jarrin said. “We have […] a shot at the end of this year to make a little bit more noise about the fact that [the proposal] was rejected.”
ASOC Frosh Senator and member of the Academic Affairs Committee Julisa Menjivar (first year) said that while her main goal is to have the chance to double major in sociology and education, she is committed to advocating for future students as well.
“Whenever I have something in my mind, I will get it done,” Menjivar said. “I know it’s going to get done, even if it’s not [me] majoring in [education during] my four years — the next four years, the students that come after me, they will major in it.”
Solórzano said a significant challenge the department has faced is the consistent rejections despite following and improving upon all the feedback the APC has given. He said he hopes for more transparency moving forward as the department continues proposing the major.
“We’ve been doing this for six years — we’re not going to stop,” Solórzano said. “We’re going to go until they hit us over the head with a club and say, ‘No more.’”
Contact Kawena Jacobs at jacobsk@oxy.edu
