The 1980s saw more Chican@ Studies programs integrated into institutions of higher learning while it also created a "canonical approach" to its studies and "gatekeeping procedures" to evaluate promotions and tenure.
In the 1980s, there was a significant increase in the inclusion of Chican@ Studies within higher education institutions. This period also saw the development of a common understanding of Chican@ Studies and the establishment of procedures to assess advancements and tenure.