The Chicana/o Studies Department at East Los Angeles College (ELAC) is one of the largest and oldest community college Chicano Studies programs in the country. First established during the civil rights era, at the height of the Chicano Movement, the department has a long history in East Los Angeles, with strong ties to the Chicana/o community. The 1968 East Los Angeles student blow outs and related student activism throughout California set the stage for the emergence of Chicano Studies programs in Los Angeles Colleges and Universities. At ELAC, the Mexican American Studies Department was first instituted in 1968 and would later change its title to the Chicano Studies Department by the late 1970’s. Chris Ruiz was appointed the first Department chairperson in 1968, and a small number of classes were initiated as part of the college curriculum. During this time the student group MASA (Mexican American Student Association) and the student journal La Vida Nueva, along with the Department became the activist core supporting Raza education at ELAC. Over the years the Department evolved, adding many diverse courses to their curriculum while increasing the numbers of faculty, both full time and adjunct and most recently, increasing the numbers of female faculty. Today, the Chicana/o Studies Department maintains one of the nations largest, and most diverse community college Chicano Studies curriculums with over 25 distinct courses in our program. We serve an ever increasing student population and our courses are taught at our main campus on Avenida Cesar Chavez in Monterey Park, the South Gate Satellite center, in South Los Angeles, many local high school campuses in East Los Angeles and surrounding communities and online. Each year the department sponsors numerous cultural and educational events intended to educate students and community about the vast experiences of Chicana/os, while at the same time, enhancing our academic program.
by the late 1970’s. Chris Ruiz was appointed the first Department chairperson in 1968, and a small number of classes were initiated as part of the college curriculum. During this time the student group MASA (Mexican American Student Association) and the student journal La Vida Nueva, along with the Department became the activist core supporting Raza education at ELAC. Over the years the Department evolved, adding many diverse courses to their curriculum while increasing the numbers of faculty, both full time and adjunct and most recently, increasing the numbers of female faculty. Today, the Chicana/o Studies Department maintains one of the nations largest, and most diverse community college Chicano Studies curriculums with over 25 distinct courses in our program. We serve an ever increasing student population and our courses are taught at our main campus on Avenida Cesar Chavez in Monterey Park, the South Gate Satellite center, in South Los Angeles, many local high school campuses in East Los Angeles and surrounding communities and online. Each year the department sponsors numerous cultural and educational events intended to educate students and community about the vast experiences of Chicana/os, while at the same time, enhancing our academic program.