After persistent lobbying from students, the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse will launch a certificate program in Hmong American Studies in the fall, reports the La Crosse Tribune.
The move at the public university is significant given the large Hmong American population in the state. As of 2010, there were about 50,000 Hmong Americans in the state, behind only California and Minnesota.
The expansion comes just months after the language department cancelled a two course Hmong language heritage series in the spring due to low enrollment.
Students protested the move, emphasizing the importance of the classes to Hmong identity
“In areas where there is a strong Hmong American population, there is a big need for this kind of academic training,” Professor Sarah Shillinger said. “One of the purposes of the certificate is to make sure students who did the coursework get the recognition on their college transcript.”
The 15-17 unit certificate program will focus on history and culture.
Students at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, have also been pushing for a Hmong American Studies certificate program. According to the Badger Herald, the Associated Students unanimously backed the idea in March.
The university has said it has no money to hire additional specialty professors, but pledge its support to maintaining funding for its broader Asian American Studies program, reported the Wisconsin State Journal in March.
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