UMass Students Oppose Decision to Terminate Four-Skilled Arabic Language Program
Photo: umass.edu
The following story appeared originally in the alt-Hampshire Gazette on Nov. 5, 2026. It is reposted here with permission.
Despite a petition with over 1,000 signers calling for the preservation of the Four-Skilled Arabic Language Program at UMass Amherst, the university recently announced its final decision to eliminate the program, effective Spring 2027. The course will continue at Smith College.
Four-Skilled Arabic is housed in the Languages, Literatures, and Cultures Department at UMass, and was formerly part of the Five College Arabic Initiative until it was terminated last fall. UMass had announced in October of 2025 that the program would end during the fall 2026 semester. Supporters of the program have rallied for its preservation in the intervening months, including gathering the 1,000 petition signatures. Students wearing shirts saying “Keep Four-Skilled Arabic” came to the October 15, 2026 UMass Faculty Senate meeting to demand that the program continue and that the senior lecturer of Arabic remain in her position as program head.
Supporters of the program have received little to no response from senior administrators at UMass, despite urgent efforts to engage with them. Maria del Guadalupe Davidson, dean of the College of Humanities and Fine Arts, stated after the Faculty Senate meeting that she would meet with students to hear their views. However, she has declined to meet until after November 9, the date students begin registration for the next semester’s classes and the spring catalog is issued.
At the Faculty Senate meeting, a UMass administrator said the Five College provosts, not UMass, made the decision to terminate the program. However, the same administrator also said UMass faces difficult funding decisions, which led to the decision to terminate the program.
Read More
UMass Students Rally to Save Four-Skilled Arabic Program Set to End (Daily Hampshire Gazette)
Students Demand Clarity on UMass’ Decision to Cut Four-Skilled Arabic Language Program (Amherst Student)
UMass Cuts Four-skilled Arabic Language (Massachusetts Daily Collegian)