The Women's Studies Program provides a forum for learning and teaching about women's lives and the way society defines gender roles.  This is accomplished by administering an academic minor in women's studies, offering a wide variety of programs, fostering research about women, advocating change for women's lives, identifying career opportunities, and serving as a resource to the university and larger community.

Approved in 1980, the undergraduate women's studies minor offers an interdisciplinary field of study that examines women's experiences throughout history and across cultures, classes, ethnic groups, sexual orientations, age groups, abilities, and religions.  The goal of the minor is to empower students with knowledge, collaborative learning, critical thinking, appreciation of diversity, and personal growth.  Currently, 96 students are in the process of completing a minor in women's studies.  An undergraduate major in women's studies has been developed and is awaiting approval.  Soon the Women's Studies program will have a chapter of the national women's studies honor society, Iota, Iota, Iota (named for the ancient goddesses Inanna, Ishata, and Isis).

The Women's Studies Program oversees a Resource Center, located in Burkhardt 108, with a circulation collection of over 2000 volumes related to women made available to the campus and the local communities.

The Women's Studies Program sponsors an annual Women's Week, held the last week of March, during National Women's History Month.  The week features an average of 20 events and has included  presentations by guests such as Gloria Stienam, Winona LaDuke, Robin Morgan, Wilma Mankiller, Patricia Ireland, and Betty Friedan.