Ithaca College’s Deaf studies minor was put on administrative pause and will be cut after Fall 2025. After word spread across Ithaca College and the Deaf community, IC American Sign Language instructors shared a petition to save the program — and their jobs.
On April 30, a petition titled, “Oppose the Pause on Deaf Studies,” was started by Kimberly Dietz. That same day, Lisa Witchey, instructor of ASL at the college, sent an email with the subject, “Save Deaf Minor,” to students who have taken her ASL courses. In the email, Witchey linked the April 16 article from The Ithacan about the plan to cut the Deaf studies minor and courses. Witchey and the two other Deaf studies instructors will be laid off after Fall 2025.
“Asking if you might sign the petition to save our program,” Witchey said in the email. “Have been a professor for 22 years, not the way I wanted to go out. It was a pleasure working with all of you.”
Social media has united supporters of the Deaf studies minor. In an Instagram post from The Ithacan about the program cut, students and other members of the IC and Deaf communities commented in disagreement with the college’s decision, and over 250 people shared the post. Junior Sydra Minkoff told The Ithacan via Instagram direct messages that learning ASL at the college has opened her eyes to the wonderful world that is the Deaf community.
“Cutting this program is damaging to our ability to empathize and communicate with our peers,” Minkoff wrote. “I understand that budget cuts are extremely difficult, however this program deserves to stay and this petition helps show the impact it has. It’s important to show how much we care about our programs and professors who have given us so much.”
As of May 3, over 960 people have signed the petition. The petition holds the Ithaca College Board of Trustees accountable for being the decision maker on the future of the Deaf studies program. The Ithaca College Board of Trustees will have meetings from May 15 through May 17.
“Ithaca College believed that to help improve their finances, cutting this beloved minor and courses would improve their situation,” the petition website states. “However, the ASL courses tend to be fully booked and even maxed out beyond recommended class size each semester. … By cutting this program, Ithaca College is further marginalizing the Deaf population in the Ithaca area and on their campus. The community may be small but their history and culture deserve to be respected.”
