The Task Force on Women, appointed by Chancellor Archie Dykes in 1971, recommended the establishment of an academic minor in women’s studies, leaving open the possibility that the area of study could eventually become a major. Although the task force’s recommendation was directed to campus-level administration of such a program, budget and organizational considerations led to focusing the efforts in the College of Liberal Arts, which had shown the greatest interest in establishment of such a program. Dean Alvin Nielsen appointed the Liberal Arts Committee for Women’s Studies in the spring of 1973, with Dr. Suzanne Kurth (Sociology Department) as chair.
On November 19, 1973, the committee recommended the establishment of a Women’s Studies Program as a cultural studies minor. In 1974 courses in women’s studies were offered, and the proposed cultural studies minor in women’s studies was approved by all required academic bodies. Subsequently, offering of a graduate certificate was approved. The program, operated by an advisory committee with a chair who reported for the program to an associate dean of Liberal Arts, became effective in fall 1975, with Dr. Suzanne Kurth serving as the first chair. In June 1984 a major in women’s studies was approved. In 1985 the program moved from the Alumni Memorial Building to a house at 2012 Lake Avenue. When that house was to be razed to create more peripheral parking, the program moved to the Jessie Harris Building.