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Mississippi State Auditor Shad White has proposed cutting funding for programs such as women's and African-American studies in the state. He argues that these programs produce graduates who are poorly paid and typically do not work in Mississippi after they leave college. Instead, it recommends considering funding for degree programs alongside the state's workforce needs.
In the report released last Wednesday, Shad White recommends that funding for degree programs should be considered alongside the state's workforce needs.
“Some programs—such as Women's Studies, African American/Black Studies, German Language and Literature—placed so few graduates in Mississippi jobs that analysts could not calculate a statistically significant median salary for those graduates,” the report states. “Yet the state invests just as much, per student, in these programs as it does in Electrical Engineering or Registered Nursing programs.”
Graduating more students from high-paying degree programs “and then retaining even a small number of them will inject millions of additional dollars into Mississippi's economy,” the report states.
White repeated the position of his desk, Writing in one post, “Dump degrees are also bad for the economy” because they “produce graduates who offer no real skills.”
White posted on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, “By all means, go take this Latinx Environmental Justice in Urban Studies class. Just don't ask the taxpayers to pay for it.”
This proposal has been criticized by many people, who argue that it is an attack on academic freedom and diversity of thought. They also point out that women's and African American studies programs are important for teaching students about the experiences of marginalized groups and promoting social justice.
The attack on academic freedom is a serious threat to education and democracy. Presidential candidate and current Florida Governor Ron DeSandis signed the “Individual Freedom Act” that prohibits teachers from teaching certain topics related to race and is designed, in part, to prevent teachers from making the students to feel guilt or shame about their race due to historical events.
It is important to note that White's proposal is just that: a proposal. It is not yet clear whether it will be approved by the state legislature. However, the fact that it did is a sign that the value of these programs is being questioned.
Here are some additional thoughts on the proposal:
- It is important to consider the value of women's and African American studies programs beyond their economic impact. These programs teach students about important historical and contemporary issues and help promote diversity and inclusion on campus.
- White's proposal could have a negative impact on students interested in pursuing careers in these fields. It could also make it more difficult for Mississippi universities to attract and retain top faculty in these fields.
- It is important to note that many women and African American studies graduates go on to have successful careers at Mississippi. They may work in education, government, nonprofits, or the private sector.
