Fox said she is not yet prepared for the additional work of creating a nonviolence studies major. But Phil Hanlon, associate provost and chair of the Taskforce on Multidisciplinary Studies, said that it might be the kind of program that could be sponsored by the taskforce.

"It's a little hard to tell outside the context of a specific proposal," Hanlon said. "What we're looking to support are large courses and concentrations that pull from many different areas."

Bright and Hanlon both estimated the whole process was at least a year away from completion, but Hanlon said that was standard for any new program.