The University of Michigan Board of Regents decided not to vote on defunding the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) program at its final meeting of the year. However, they announced they would no longer require diversity statements for faculty during hiring or promotion, a significant shift. The board emphasized that there are no plans to cut DEI programs, despite reports of spending $250 million on diversity initiatives since 2016. The board also increased household income requirements for tuition-free admission for in-state students.
President Santa J. Ono stated that the university aims to make education more accessible and equitable for all students in the state. Some speculated that the board would defund the DEI program after a New York Times Magazine article raised questions about its effectiveness. Student and faculty members rallied on campus to support the program, with many emphasizing the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in education.
However, some, including physics professor Keith Riles, called for the elimination of all DEI programs, labeling them as discriminatory and criticizing the Black Lives Matter Movement as a “grift.” President-elect Donald Trump has promised to scale back DEI initiatives at federally funded colleges, while some states have banned DEI programs at state-funded universities. The decision to not defund the DEI program at the University of Michigan, despite concerns about its effectiveness, reflects ongoing debates about diversity initiatives in higher education.
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