Letter from Elaine Hedges to Gilbert Brungardt, 1976

Women's Center Telephone (301) 321-2666 September 22', 1976 Gilbert Brungardt Associate Dean Dear Dean Brungardt; I should like to report to you and to other interested administrators on the state of Women's Studies at Towson. Since there was concern expressed during the summer over low preregistration in some courses, I am happy to report the following Fall, 1976 enrollment figures: 11901.231 Women in Perspective (team taught) 50 1501.271 Themes in American Literature: Ethnic Women 31 1501.474 Topics in Women's Studies: Women in Drama 31 2205.492 Women in European History 22 2001.323 Women in Psychology (double section) 56 4901.231 Women in Perspective (evening) 19 All enrollments in departmental (English, History, Psychology) electives compare favorably with enrollments in other elective courses in those departments. The enrollment in Women in Perspective is most favorable. There would seem, therefore, to be no cause for alarm as to declining student interest in women's Studies. In fact, some of the apprehension expressed this summer was based on misinformation: the preregistration in Women in Perspective was 20, not 11 as originally reported. Under the new computer system the course bulletin erroneously listed two sections of the course, and the enrollment in only one of those sections was reported on the first computer printout. Fortunately, by September the computer had disgorged the missing students. We are especially pleased with these enrollments since they were achieved despite many obstacles. Because we are not a department, and so have no rooms of our own, we were forced to change the time at which Women in Perspective would meet in order to get a meeting placeo Changes in departmental schedules, over which w~ have no control, led to four Women's Studies courses being offered in only two different time periods. Thus, sane students may have been unable to enroll in some courses. The computer error already referred to was another obstacle, as was the misleading and hard-to-find bulletin listing of Women's Studies offerings. We anticipate having to continue to contend with some of these obstacles, especially as long as the demands on space in Linthicum exceed the supply. We shall remain dependent on the cooperation and good will of individual departments and of the administration, whom we trust will continue to recognize the importance and necessity of Women's Studies to the University. The appended article clearly indicates that there is still much work to he done. Sincerely, Elaine Hedges Coordinator Women's Studies c.c. Vice President Shaw, Dean Frijters ,