The Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Oklahoma plans to remove the current requirements that students take three semesters of a foreign language. This is a major change to the university’s general education requirements, which also affects our major and minor programs of study across campus. It jeopardizes our ability to offer any language courses, especially since many of these classes cannot be supported by majors alone. The proposed change puts at risk not only our extensive and diverse academic programs but it also endangers the professional standing of faculty and staff members who contribute to our rich learning environment. Removing the foreign language requirement from general education at OU trivializes its importance and undermines the institution's promise of a well-rounded education. This move particularly endangers Native language classes (currently Cherokee, Choctaw, Creek, Kiowa, and Potawatomi), to which the university has a special commitment and which are not widely available elsewhere.

Learning a foreign language brings immense benefits, it expands our cultural understanding, boosts cognitive skills, and widens job opportunities. According to a report by American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, 9 out of 10 U.S. employers rely on employees with language skills other than English. More critically, 1 in 4 U.S. employers lost a business opportunity specifically due to a lack of foreign language skills (ACTFL, 2017). This limits (and in some cases eliminates) opportunities for Oklahoma students to succeed and be competitive in the global market. 

We demand that the University of Oklahoma and the Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences continue to support the foreign language requirement for General Education, and withdraw their proposal of removing the language requirement. The  implications harm the staff and students, set back our relationships with Native Nations, and diminish the richness of our academic environment. Stand with us, sign this petition, and voice your opposition to this decision. Thank you for your consideration and support.