In addition to their vote on course loads, faculty also approved a proposal for Spanish to become its own department, separate from Foreign Languages and Literatures, which currently comprises Chinese, Japanese, French, German and Spanish.

“We have been in conversation with the provost of the faculty and their office for over two years about this, so this was not a big surprise,” said Nohemy Solorzano-Thompson, associate professor of foreign languages and literatures: Spanish and chair of the Spanish section of the department. “Everyone was very supportive.”

Spanish is the largest section of Foreign Languages and Literatures, with five full-time professors. Solorzano-Thompson said the change, effective next year, serves administrative purposes and will not effect students’ major or minor requirements.

Akira Takemoto, professor of foreign languages and literatures: Japanese and department chair, agreed.

“It shouldn’t affect students at all in terms of requirements, because most of the languages are in many ways already their own separate programs.”

According to Takemoto, the whole department endorsed the change, but it is unlikely any other language sections will choose a similar route in the future.

“The other languages still feel that it’s beneficial to stay together,” he said.