Northwestern University is changing the status of its African Studies program — described as the oldest of its kind in the country — raising questions about how changes will impact everything from its funding to the staff.
University spokesperson Amy E. Lee said in a statement on Saturday the program “has not closed” but is “transitioning away from” its status as a university-wide research institute and center.
“Northwestern values the important and impactful work of the Program of African Studies and remains committed to this work,” Lee said. “The university looks forward to engaging faculty to develop a shared direction for supporting African Studies at Northwestern.”
But Meagan Keefe, the program’s director of outreach and operations, told the Sun-Times in a phone interview staff were informed Aug. 5 the program would close and they would no longer be employed as of Aug. 31.
Keefe said staff has not been provided specific details about where the program would be housed or what would happen to its funding. “They say it’s not closing, but they say we were let go because it closed. I don’t know how you have both,” she said.
Program staffers uncertain about future
Will Reno, a Northwestern political science department chair and professor who directed the program from 2012 to 2018, said two program staff members told him Aug. 5 they were being fired effective Aug. 31 .
“Normally, if you fire somebody, you’ve got to at least give them a heads-up. You’ve got certain rights,” Reno said. “But if a program that they’re attached to is closing, you can tell these people, ‘I’m sorry, the thing that you had a job at doesn’t exist.'”
Reno said to his knowledge, faculty had not been notified of the decision beforehand.
“We don’t know the answer to the question of whether it’s closing,” Reno said.
He said faculty received a message from interim vice president for research Sumit Dhar on Aug. 7 explaining the program was not closing, though questions remained about what would happen after its two existing staff positions were eliminated.
‘Damage’ done to NU’s reputation
Reno said when he led the program, it had five staff members but dwindled in recent years.
What initiated faculty interest was knowledge the staffing of the African Studies progrma had suddenly been reduced to “zero,” Reno said, leading to a perception the program was shutting down.
“We’re left adrift trying to figure out what zero [staff] means,” Reno said.
Reno said he has heard from faculty, alumni groups and program donors worldwide since news of the change began circulating.
“I don’t think the administration understands the damage that this has caused,” he said. “They don’t understand the stakes.”
Reno said he spent the weekend apologizing to program supporters and is concerned about how the university’s action is being viewed.
“Our reputation as a university is dependent on people’s perceptions of our reputation,” he said. “I’m getting all kinds of messages from people in the United States but also people all around the world.”
Founded in 1948, Northwestern’s Program of African Studies has sponsored research on Africa and facilitated work within the continent, according to the program’s website. In a statement, the university said it’s “committed to continued support for all facets of African Studies, including undergraduate and graduate education as well as research.”
The program continues and will be overseen by the provost’s office instead of its research office, and an interim director will be appointed to lead the program starting Sept. 1, the university said in a statement Sunday morning.