ANN ARBOR, MI – The University of Michigan announced major changes to its DEI programs, including the closing its Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
The university announced the changes late Thursday afternoon.
In an email from university leaders including President Santa Ono, UM announced it will also shutter its Office for Health Equity and Inclusion and discontinue its DEI 2.0 Strategic Plan, effective immediately.
“These decisions have not been made lightly,” the email stated. “We recognize the changes are significant and will be challenging for many of us, especially those whose lives and careers have been enriched by and dedicated to programs that are now pivoting.”
The changes were announced by Ono, as well as Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Laurie McCauley, Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs Marschall Runge and Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Geoffrey Chatas.
The university plans to “shift resources to increase investments in student-facing programs,” like financial aid, mental health resources and pre-professional counseling in the coming months.
Investments will include expanding financial aid, enhancing mental health support, expanding the Blavin Scholars Program and expanding student success with improved advising, counseling and pre-professional guidance, among other things.
Student-facing services in the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion will shift to other offices focused on student access and opportunity, according to the announcement.
The email stated that UM has made “important progress in opening opportunities and supporting the success of all students,” since the launch of its DEI strategic plan in 2016. However, UM has also heard “strong pride” in its support for student-facing programs.
“We have also heard concerns about the balance of resources between administration and direct student support,” the email stated. “Some in our campus community have voiced frustration that they did not feel included in DEI initiatives and that the programming fell short in fostering connections among diverse groups.”
The changes also come as the Trump administration has threatened funding cuts over DEI programs at colleges and universities across the country.
McCauley convened a special committee, co-sponsored by the vice president for government relations and chief diversity officer, last year as part of ongoing assessments. This brought together deans, faculty and staff to review structural aspects of UM’s DEI efforts, according to the release.
Other additional actions mentioned in the message include:
- All units will have to evaluate their web presence to reflect the status of the current programmatic directions as well as for compliance with federal executive orders and guidance.
- Ending the use of diversity statements in faculty hiring will be implemented university wide. Statements related to someone’s commitment to DEI will no longer be asked or considered in admissions, hiring, promotion, awards, annual reviews or other assessments for faculty and staff.
- Individual leads who have supported DEI efforts in schools, colleges and units will refocus their effort to their core responsibilities
- The Office of the General Counsel will conduct an expedited review to ensure all policies, programs and practices comply with federal law and guidance
Stay with MLive for more on this developing story.
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