A new home for culture & collaboration
The University of Illinois has commenced a historic investment in a new home for ethnic, gender, and women’s studies units within the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. This bold initiative reimagines what a 21st-century land-grant university can be, rooted in values of empowerment, inclusion, and collaboration.
Ethnic, gender, and women's studies units at Illinois have played a pivotal role in building the university we are today—a collaborative, inclusive, and empowering community of scholars, educators, and learners working toward an informed and equitable future through an honest understanding of our past. As we look toward the future, these disciplines have never been more essential in advancing scholarship and educating future leaders to address society's challenges.
At present, the Departments of African American Studies, Asian American Studies, Gender & Women’s Studies, Latina/Latino Studies, and the Program in American Indian Studies are spread across outdated buildings that hinder their vital work in social justice and advocacy.
The construction of a new, modern building will bring these disciplines together under one roof. Co-locating these units will foster opportunities for idea exchange, collaboration, and community engagement—enhancing their academic, cultural, and social impact.
Project details
Located near the heart of campus, the new building will stand at the southwest corner of West Nevada Street and South Goodwin Avenue, adjacent to the university’s cultural houses and centers. Designed to foster connection and creativity, it will house two departments per floor, with an atrium that brings in natural light and glass bridges that link departments to encourage collaboration. A patio will offer space for socializing, studying, and relaxation.
The building’s design will celebrate each department’s unique cultural identity through artistic and architectural elements, honoring their histories and contributions. At the same time, it will cultivate a sense of unity and community across all programs, creating a shared space where all voices are heard.
Positioned within a planned campus cultural hub, the building will be connected to the university's Office for Inclusion and Intercultural Relations and its cultural centers, including the Asian American Cultural Center, the Bruce B. Nesbitt African American Cultural Center, the LGBT Resource Center, La Casa Cultural Latina, the Native American House, and the Women’s Resource Center. This area will become a vibrant hub for cultural and diversity programs.
Impact on students
A central part of the Illinois undergraduate experience is expanding students' perspectives beyond their communities of origin. All undergraduates at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign take at least one course on U.S. minority cultures, most through the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. These classes explore the history of racial minorities in the U.S. and address issues of power, privilege, justice, inequality, marginalization, and resistance. Students reflect on their own perspectives and engage in respectful discussions, preparing them to contribute to both campus and global communities.
Studies consistently show that diverse teams excel in problem-solving, discovery, and innovation. For minority students and those from marginalized groups, these departments provide a vital sense of identity, belonging, and confidence, empowering them to thrive in a large university environment.
Graduates of ethnic, gender, and women’s studies go on to impactful careers in politics, law, nonprofit leadership, social work, and business. Organizations seeking professionals with expertise in inequality often turn to Illinois for talent. This lasting impact deserves a modern, collaborative facility to support future changemakers.
Hear directly from a student in gender & women's studies on the importance of this new building:
Impact on faculty
College of LAS faculty are internationally recognized for innovative and impactful interdisciplinary research on gender, sexual, ethnic, and racial inequality; social justice; and culture. Through joint appointments and collaborations across campus, these faculty members also play a central role in the university’s equality and accessibility curriculum, providing leadership and expertise in the development and oversight of the U.S. minority cultures general education requirement, first implemented in 2018.
Despite this exceptional talent and collaborative spirit, the biggest barrier to attracting and retaining top faculty is the outdated, inadequate spaces housing these departments. The chronic maintenance, safety, and accessibility issues in these old buildings unintentionally send a message that undermines the value of these critical programs. A new dedicated facility would be invaluable in supporting their important work.
Contribute to the project
The generosity of alumni, friends, foundations, and corporate partners will help us to build a home worthy of the talent and expertise of those who work and learn within it.
News from the units
Ethnic, gender, and women's studies at Illinois have been essential in shaping our vibrant community. Explore their impact, on campus and beyond.
