American Sign Language Resolution
Whereas, the State of Delaware passed in Spring 2010 House Bill
345 allowing American Sign Language (
Whereas, the Linguistic Society of America affirms that sign languages used by deaf communities are full-fledged languages with all the structural characteristics and range of expression of spoken languages; and
Whereas, our University’s strategic plan affirms the
principle that "The University of Delaware will foster a robust
educational environment in which all people are welcome and feel welcome—one
that supports critical thinking, free inquiry, and respect for diverse views
and values;" and
Whereas, the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign
Languages (ACTFL) passed a motion urging that educational institutions
recognize
Whereas, the UD Path to Prominence states that "Our
global initiative will embrace the diverse regions and people of the greater
Whereas, the Deaf World constitutes a community having its
own language, culture, and literature that UD does not exclude from its Path to
Prominence; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, that the University of Delaware accepts American
Sign Language as one of the foreign languages that count in fulfilling the
language requirement for admission to the university.