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Home > About Us : A message from the department Chair

A message from the department Chair

On behalf of the Department of Chicano Studies faculty and staff, thank you for visiting our website. Here you can find out more about our major and minor, our course offerings, departmental initiatives, news, programs and upcoming events. Chicano Studies is the study of people of Mexican descent in the United States through an interdisciplinary lens. It is grounded in social justice values that seek the amelioration of racism, sexism, homophobia, and systemic inequalities. Born out of the Civil Rights Movement, it also values a close working relationship with community so that educational access is seen as a fundamental right and a form of community empowerment. As we near our 40th year as the first full-fledged Department of Chicano Studies in the Upper Midwest region, and the only one in Minnesota, we pride ourselves in carrying forth the legacy of the students and community activists who had the vision to advocate for the establishment of this department. As the fastest growing population in Minnesota, the knowledge base regarding Chicanos and Latinos in Minnesota and around the nation must be broadened and deepened. We invite you to be part of this journey. Staff and faculty in Chicano studies work at developing special relationships with students and community members. We are also seen as a strong cultural connection and safe haven on campus where Chicana/o-Latina/o students meet other students, and are given quality academic advice in pursuing an education and career that advances your personal goals and the well-being of the entire community.

Our vision for the Department of Chicano Studies at the University of Minnesota is inspired by words taken from El Plan de Santa Barbara, the founding document of a national movement to establish Chicano Studies at the university: …we take as our credo what Jose Vasconcelos once said at a time of crisis and hope: "At this moment we do not come to work for the university, but to demand that the university work for our people.'' To that end, we strive to achieve our departmental mission by offering a rigorous undergraduate degree program that is complemented by extensive civic engagement and outreach efforts and public programming activities. One of our goals is to support and increase the presence of Chicanas/os and Latinas/os in the intellectual, political, and social professions, both within and beyond the Midwest. Both of these efforts promote cultural affirmation, social justice values, and community service. Students in our courses gain insight into cultural dynamics, social processes, and the historical significance of the contributions of Chicanas/os as a group. Students also develop the necessary analytical and methodological skills to better understand the emerging multicultural character of the nation and the key role that Chicanas/os and Latinas/os play in society. Our curriculum is structured to prepare students in our classes for the complex social issues that face the Chicana/o-Latina/o community so they may be informed, articulate, and engaged as citizens and advocates for promoting community well-being.

Whether you know a little or a lot about Chicana/os and Latina/os in Minnesota or the U.S, we invite you take a class, and consider minoring or majoring in Chicano Studies.

– Louis Mendoza, Chair