Starting this Fall 2024 semester, the College of Liberal Arts and Education (CLAE) has officially been renamed the College of Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences (CHASS).
CLAE was established in 1877 and has been part of the University of Detroit Mercy since its founding.
CLAE included the offering of an education program, yet the lack of student enrollment has led to its official closure. Since undergraduate education degrees are no longer offered, the new name will help clarify which programs are still available at the college.
CLAE is the backbone of the new CHASS. The new name highlights the expansion of opportunities and resources while preserving its liberal arts roots.
When renaming the college, it was imperative to the college’s dean, Jocelyn Boryczka, that the renaming of the college was collaborative.
The Strategic Vision Task Force was implemented to fulfill this vision. It embraced the ideas of the dean, administrators, alumni, faculty, staff and students. In a six-to-eight-month period, the Strategic Vision Task Force held focus groups and engaged in surveys.
“We did a survey of our college and also of the university community to see how they understood our college and to help us think about what a new name might look like,” Boryczka said.
Five names were generated from the surveys, and after voting, it was decided that the college’s new name would be CHASS.
“The name is meant to be inclusive of the range of departments that we have here in the college, that all share a commitment to focusing on the human beings that make up the world in which we live in,” she said. “We are people first, and all the rich diversities of those peoples who we represent.”
It was important that the new name’s meaning for the college maintained the fundamental values of CLAE while incorporating the vision of future expansion.
“This change signals a commitment to our core values while also positioning us to better navigate and address the complexities of the modern world,” said CHASS’ associate dean for undergraduate education, Greg Grobis.
The excitement of the future was encapsulated on Sept. 5 when the college hosted the CHASS Welcome Bash to celebrate the renaming of the college.
Administrators, alumni, faculty, staff and students all gathered on Briggs’ porch to recognize the new name. Over 150 people were there to acknowledge the new name, spirit and first CHASS class.
“As Dean, this is the beginning of a new era,” Boryczka said.
Some of those in attendance were part of the Strategic Vision Task Force, which helped determine the college’s new name, like Assistant Professor of Political Science, Felicia Grey.
“I felt like I was a part of an idea that has become reality,” Grey said. “It gave a sense of being a part of community, a sense of belonging.”
CHASS student Haley Gavigan, also connected to the Strategic Vision Task Force, saw its impact.
“For the rest of Fall 2024, I’m hoping that the magnetic energy emergent from the CHASS Bash can continue during the semester and more events can be coordinated for everybody,” Gavigan said.
Considering the event, Associate Professor of Communication Studies Jason Roche aspires for those of CHASS to feel united.
“I hope that they are feeling encouraged and excited to be a part of this college,” Roche said.
The spirit CHASS has embodied is predicted to prevail.
“Building off the energy of the CHASS Bash and Celebrate Spirit, we are excited about upcoming events that will continue to cultivate our community spirit and intellectual engagement,” Grobis said.
The CHASS field trip series, interdisciplinary symposiums, creative workshops and public lectures can be expected from the college along with the opening season of the on-campus black box theatre in the Fall of 2025.
“These events not only spotlight the innovative work happening within CHASS but also serve as opportunities for cross-disciplinary collaboration and engagement with the larger Detroit community,” Grobis said.
For these events, CHASS’ student ambassadors are prepared to represent the college and what being a CHASS student is like. Morgen Rhodes, social media coordinator and lead student ambassador, is ensuring that this process runs smoothly.
“I want to showcase the successes of our exceptional students and alumni, promote engaging events, and share the impact of our programs to inspire others to join CHASS and participate in our community,” Rhodes said. “We’re planning to showcase everything from student life to behind-the-scenes looks at CHASS programs.”
Although this is the official farewell to CLAE, the offerings of CHASS are exciting. The vision to maintain its roots and expand is already being fulfilled.
“Following the transformation of the College, I’m hoping that everyone will have a chance to serve as a mascot who can champion the values of CHASS, and I’m not just talking about Tommy Titan,” Gavigan said.
