Hello! The Howard University American Sign Language Club is advocating for the official recognition of ASL as a foreign language by the Department of World Languages and Cultures of the College of Arts and Science at Howard University. Allowing students to receive credit that satisfies the university’s foreign language requirement when enrolled in ASL classes through the Washington Metropolitan Area Consortium.

Currently, the Department of World Languages and Culture does not recognize ASL has a foreign language due to it originating in the United States. If students were to take ASL classes through the consortium, those credits would potentially be accepted as humanities credit.

We believe that this is unacceptable. ASL should be recognized as a foreign language and students should get the appropriate course credit from the consortium. The club has been actively trying to set up a meeting with university official to present our proposal on why ASL should be recognized as a foreign language, why students should get the appropriate credit, and how it would benefit the university. In order to do this, we need your help. Please sign this petition if you support our cause!