Many rising juniors and seniors at James Madison College are deeply concerned and upset by the recent decision to change the name of the Comparative Cultures and Politics degree name to Rights Cultures and Politics. The current upper-level students, specifically those in the 2026-2027 graduating class, find themselves in a difficult position as they are nearing the completion of their degree requirements and were blindsided with the abrupt change for their degree name . Many of us chose this specific major with its original name, Comparative Cultures and Politics, because it best represents our academic goals, career aspirations, and personal identities. The name carries a weight in our professional lives along with our future plans after graduation.

With the lack of communication to the student body, there has been no time for students in the middle of completing this major to make the decision to graduate early or switch majors without severe academic and financial consequences. This sudden shift can potentially misrepresent our credentials to future employers as current upper level students will have little time participating in this new degree and will graduate before we can learn how to market and explain the new degree title.

Due to the severe impact that this degree name change will have on both our personal and professional lives, we ask the administration to consider allowing those already near completion of the major to graduate under the name that they originally committed to: Comparative Cultures and Politics. 

This change affects not only our personal and professional futures but also the identity we hold within the college By honoring this request, James Madison College can support its students in achieving their career goals without unnecessary obstacles. Please add your signature to this petition to urge the administration to permit existing students in the 2026-2028 graduating classes to earn their degrees under the original title.