The University of North Carolina is facing a potential reversal of its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts after a committee within the UNC Board of Governors voted to repeal a related policy in less than four minutes. While the full board still needs to vote on the decision, if they follow the committee’s lead, the DEI policy — which includes the roles of staff within the DEI office and establishes a diversity and inclusion council — will be dropped. The new policy drafted to replace the current regulation does not outline the tasks and job duties of DEI officers, raising concerns that the office may be eliminated.
Senior vice president for the UNC System Office’s legal affairs team, Andrew Tripp, stated that the potential policy swap demonstrates the university’s commitment to non-discrimination and institutional neutrality. However, former UNC System president Tom Ross criticized the decision, calling it a disservice to students and emphasizing the importance of diversity in public universities. Democratic Governor Roy Cooper also criticized the move, stating that attacking diversity at public universities fails to protect students and threatens the ability to recruit top scientists, researchers, and innovators who drive the economy.
The issue of DEI has become a partisan topic, with Republicans claiming that it discriminates against non-minorities and Democrats arguing that it creates a more equitable playing field for all. Several universities, particularly in red states, have eliminated their DEI offices amid this debate. The University of Florida recently announced the closure of its DEI office and the reallocation of funding to faculty recruitment efforts. Multiple Republican-led states have introduced legislation to combat diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, with Texas passing a statewide ban on DEI initiatives in higher education leading to job cuts across campuses.
In Kansas, the Republican-controlled Legislature reportedly pressured the state’s higher education board to adopt an anti-DEI policy, highlighting the national trend of challenging diversity and inclusion initiatives in public institutions. Legislation in more than 20 states seeks to control and limit DEI efforts at public universities. The UNC Board of Governors, whose members are elected by the Republican-controlled North Carolina Senate and House of Representatives, is set to meet in May to finalize the decision on the DEI policy. This trend reflects a broader political divide on the role of diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education institutions.
