Faculty approves Linguistics Major and disciplinary reform at meeting

The Class of 2028 and beyond will now be able to declare a major in linguistics. The major, previously completed through the Independent Major Program, was created following a vote at the faculty meeting on Monday.

Admission to the Independent Major Program requires an extensive application process. Additionally, eligibility for the program depends on multiple factors including “a strong overall academic record,” according to the Independent Major Program website.

In a letter within the meeting agenda, Laura Kalin, associate director of the linguistics program, advocated for the new major. She outlined the program’s detailed curriculum and noted that the transition would not require a funding increase.

Kalin argued that pursuing the Independent Major in Linguistics discouraged prospective students due to the arduous application process. In addition, the linguistics program did not receive exposure at events intended to showcase majors and departments.

In a conversation with The Daily Princetonian after the conclusion of the meeting, Dean of the College Michael Gordin explained that the decision to create the linguistics major was taken after sustained interest in the linguistics program.

The meeting also included the approval of minutes for the Dec. 1 meeting, the reading of memorials for deceased faculty members, and discussions on disciplinary policy reform and committee appointments.

Dean of the Faculty Gene Jarrett ’97 presented a report for the Faculty Committee on Policy which outlined potential amendments to the University’s Rights, Rules, and Responsibilities (RRR). Following the presentation, faculty voted to approve the changes, which aim to ensure impartiality, clarify the role of advisers, and maintain a presumption of innocence during cases within the Faculty-Student Committee on Discipline.

Key revisions mandate that voting members of the Faculty-Student Committee on Discipline “must be free of any conflict of interest” in any hearing they are presiding over. Furthermore, students may now request a one-week hearing extension for preparation and are explicitly protected by a presumption of innocence until proven responsible for misconduct.

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Princeton’s Undergraduate Student Government was involved in conversations with the Executive Committee about RRR reform.

The faculty also approved a list of nominations for the Committee on Committees and Council of the Princeton University Community.

Gordin proposed curriculum changes to the East Asian studies department, psychology department, Princeton Neuroscience Institute, dance program, and gender and sexuality studies program. These course additions and removals were unanimously approved.

The meeting concluded with the approval of curricular changes to various departments in the Graduate College including Art and Archaeology, Energy Studies, French and Italian, History, History of Science, Politics, Quantitative and Computational Biology, and Spanish and Portuguese.