The Latina/o Studies Initiative is making vast strides within the university, proposing new minors and courses, hiring new professors and even getting its own abbreviation.

The Latina/o Studies Initiative committee proposed an undergraduate and graduate minor in Latina/o studies, both of which will focus on the Latin communities in the United States, such as Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, Cuban Americans and Dominican Americans.

Although these minors have not yet been approved, Latina/o Studies Initiative Director Jane Juffer said they are close to winning University Faculty Senate approval.

"It seems likely the undergraduate minor will be available in the fall and possibly the graduate minor as well," she said.

Laurie Breakey, chairwoman of the Faculty Senate Committee on Curricular Affairs, said she perceives there will be no problem.

The Faculty Senate did approve a new introduction course, Latina/o Studies 100 (Introduction to Latina/o Studies) on March 14. The course will be available fall 2006 and taught by Juffer.

Latina/o studies will also officially have its own abbreviation, LTNST, which will allow interested students to quickly and easily access its courses on the university registrar's online schedule of courses. In the past, students had to find courses relating to Latina/o studies through English or other disciplines.

To make the minors possible, the group proposed six new courses, including courses about Latina feminism, varieties of Latino cultural expression and Spanish speakers in the United States.

The history department hired two new professors in Latina/o studies: Grace Delgado, who specializes in Chicano history, and Solsiree del Moral, who specializes in the history of education in Puerto Rico.

Juffer said these steps are all essential because the Hispanic community is the fastest growing minority in the United States and has made huge contributions to America over the years, so it is important to include its history, culture and politics in American studies.

"Intrinsically, it's a part of the history of the United States," she said.

Senior lecturer in U.S. Latino and Latin American literatures Santiago Vaquera said he and other members of the Latina/o Studies Initiative have been pushing more events related to the subject in the university since 1999, but the project really took off about a year ago.

Vaquera said because the United States is becoming more and more "Latino-ized," it is necessary for the university to start integrating more of these studies.

Alvaro Acuna, Latin American Student Association president, said he is glad Penn State is catching up to other institutions by offering these studies, and it is important for Americans to learn more about the culture and language. He added that many majors and careers require proficiency in Spanish.

"It prepares everybody for the future," he said.