OU Confirms No Closure of Historic African and African American Studies Department
The University of Ohio (OU) has confirmed that it will not close the Clara Luper Department of African and African American Studies (CLAAS), despite recent rumors. The department, the first of its kind in the US, offers courses on Black history, cultures, literatures, methods, data, and intellectual debates.
OU Regent Rick Nagel has confirmed the department's continuation. The university is currently conducting a routine review of its programs, including CLAAS, as part of a multi-step evaluation process. The Clara Luper Legacy Committee, chaired by Clara Luper's daughter, has also sent a letter to OU President Joseph Harroz, Jr., encouraging the university not to abandon the department.
Enrollment in the program has fluctuated over the past decade. In the 2020-21 academic year, only two bachelor's degrees were awarded, and three in the 2024-25 academic year. Rumors of closure were fueled by a new law banning state funds for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) jobs, activities, or programs in the US. However, OU has assured that the department will remain open.
Greg Graham, chair of OU's African and African American Studies Department, has reiterated the department's commitment to its mission of educating students. Despite recent challenges, the Clara Luper Department of African and African American Studies continues to serve its purpose at the University of Ohio.
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