Editor’s note: This article has been updated to reflect an additional statement from CSU regarding the course EDUC 265 not being offered for the fall 2025 academic term.
The class EDUC 265: A Culture of Care in Schools has been offered at Colorado State University since 2014. Taught by Fulbright scholar, nonprofit owner and CSU Professor Tom Cavanagh, this class provides a variety of techniques for up-and-coming teachers to make their classes more welcoming for all students.
During class on Tuesday, however, Cavanagh announced that his class will not be offered next semester. The class, although it is housed within the race, gender and ethnic studies department, attracts students from a variety of majors and backgrounds.
Cavanagh’s work occupies a unique place in academia at CSU. As the founder of Restorative Justice Education, a nonprofit that aims to bring restorative justice to classrooms in the United States, Cavanagh brings a unique perspective regarding education.
“I have a very unique niche, and my work actually travels between both education and ethnic studies,” Cavanagh said. “It’s not unusual in ethnic studies. … Mine is all about asking, ‘How do we create a culture of care in schools?’”
When asked about his work, Cavanagh was quick to note that teaching restorative justice in the classroom is not a political issue. By teaching various techniques that promote collaboration, communities are encouraged to be stronger and more supportive. Cavanagh cares deeply for the students within his own classes.
The students sat in a circle and spent the first few minutes of class checking in with each other. During the check-in, multiple students, especially those majoring in ethnic studies, expressed fear and concern for the future of their major. Facing recent changes like those detailed in the Dear Colleague letter, the race, gender and ethnic studies department may have to adhere to new policies.
“We didn’t know what we’d be teaching in the fall in the department until this week, which is pretty darn late,” Cavanagh said.
Cavanagh did not provide a specific reason for the class no longer being offered, though the university later provided The Collegian with a statement regarding the change.
“This class is not being offered in fall 2025 due to low enrollment,” university spokesperson Tiana Kennedy said. “CSU has made no changes to academic programs due to shifting federal DEI guidance.”
For ethnic studies students like Alexis Sixtos Mejia, the upcoming semester is largely up in the air. Sixtos Mejia said that even his professors are unaware of what is going to happen in the near future.
“The department itself is, like, facing so many changes, … and it’s just really sad that it has to go away,” Sixtos Mejia said.
As a student with many semesters ahead of him, Sixtos Mejia, like many race, gender and ethnic studies students, is unsure if the classes needed for the major will be offered next semester.
For other students at CSU like Jose Gutierrez, who is majoring in both ethnic studies and political science, significant alterations to the race, ethnic and gender studies major may cause students to switch their courses of study.
“I’m an incoming freshman and, moving to my sophomore year, I might have to change my major because there’s not going to be many courses offered,” Gutierrez said.
For students whose college plans hinged on earning a degree in race, gender and ethnic studies, their plans may have to change quickly as fewer and fewer of the courses are being offered at CSU.
“Classes are going to be taken away, so that’s really what sucks,” Gutierrez said. “I was really passionate about ethnic studies.”
As for Cavanagh, he said he hopes to provide his students with as much reassurance and information as possible. When asked what he would tell students who are nervous about upcoming changes at CSU, he said, “Just as you are, you’re good enough.”
Reach Ella Dorpinghaus at life@collegian.com or on Twitter @CSUCollegian.
