Northwestern’s Program of African Studies was founded in 1948 as the first formal academic program focused on Africa in the U.S. (Jerry Wu / The Purple Wire)
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1. SCOOP: Northwestern moves to close Program of African Studies
Northwestern plans to remove its flagship Program of African Studies’ status as a university research center, effectively closing the program at the end of the month, according to two people familiar with the matter.
University administrators informed staff at the start of this month that it will sunset the nearly 80 year-old program, laying off its staff while leaving students and faculty in the dark about the future of African Studies and its funding on campus, according to two people.
“They didn’t give us a reason for the closing. They haven’t actually told staff anything about their plans,” said one program staff member, granted anonymity for fear of retribution.
In a statement, University spokesperson Amy E Lee said that “the program has not closed but is in a period of transition away from status as an Office for Research university-wide research institute and center.”
Lee stressed Northwestern remains “committed to continued support for all facets of African Studies, including undergraduate and graduate education as well as research.”
The Program of African Studies was founded by American anthropologist Melville J. Herskovits in 1948 as the first formal academic program focused on Africa in the U.S. Its status as a university-wide research institute and center meant it existed separately from Northwestern’s schools and was based in the Center of Research in order to facilitate interdisciplinary research.
“They told us that the center is closing, so all staff are being laid off because there will be no center to employ you,” said the staff member.
As a research center, the program has received significant funding over the years. In some decades, it received millions of dollars in grants from major foundations, which allowed the university to fund construction of the back half of the building. The program no longer has the same level of funding, though it has continued to receive government grants in recent years, including from the Department of Education and the State Department, said the staff member.
After previous layoffs last year, the program had a total of one director and two staff in 2026. It coordinates African Studies majors and minors in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences and supports research and scholarships for students across the university working in Africa.
The folding of PAS leaves many questions, including whether Weinberg staff will take on the responsibility of continuing the offerings of African Studies at Northwestern.
“It makes sense to have the program in Weinberg but it seems no one could agree on how to move it within the university administratively,” said the staff member.
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Clarification: The statement from Northwestern’s spokesperson was updated to provide greater clarity on the university’s position.