The College of Arts and Sciences has changed its name to the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.The new name — which went into effect July 1 — will have no effect on academics.The name change acknowledges the loss of most science components and some traditional art programs, Humanities and Social Sciences Dean Gaines Foster said in an email to his faculty and staff.The College of Arts and Sciences was the foundation of the University when it was first created in 1908. Its departments included arts, humanities, physical sciences, biological sciences and social sciences, Foster said.The college began to lose many of its science and art components in the 1930s, Foster said.In 1938, chemistry and physics left Arts and Science to form the College of Basic Sciences — now the College of Science — eventually taking four other science departments with it in 1983. Mathematics also moved to the College of Science last school year.In 1966, the Department of Fine Arts moved to the School of Environmental Design — now Art and Design.Three decades later, the theatre department moved to the College of Music and Dramatic Arts.The former provost initiated the idea to change the name of the college. The final decision to change the name was made by the LSU System, Foster said.The name change is being met in varying regards by Humanities and Social Sciences faculty and staff.”I really like the new name,” said communication studies professor James Honeycutt, “It reflects precisely the departments of our college.”Others do not share the positive thoughts on the change.”I actually was upset that it doesn’t include the ‘Science’ element within the college originally,” said Patrick Hesp, Department of Geography & Anthropology chair. “Because ‘Social Science’ doesn’t really cover what the whole gamut of ‘Science’ represents.”His sentiments are shared by anthropology professor Mary Jill Body.”In this department especially, there are hard core scientists,” Body explained.The Department of Geography & Anthropology is involved in climatology, aerodynamic forensics and physical anthropology, subjects that many would not consider a social science, Body said.The new name sets up a false dichotomy within the Department of Geography & Anthropology, where a varying degree of social and physical scientists work together, Body said.There will be a brief transition between the old name and the new one to avoid confusion, Foster said.For now, the Humanities and Social Sciences website will still read as the College of Arts and Sciences. Foster will continue to be known as the Dean of the Arts and Sciences College.”The name changes neither who we are nor what we do,” Foster said.
 
 
 
—-Contact Julian Tate at [email protected]