CV NEWS FEED // The University of Wyoming recently announced that it will remove its Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
The University (UW) issued a news release on May 10 explaining that the change comes after legislative action removed $1.73 million from its budget for the next two years. A legislative budget footnote also informed UW that state funds could not be spent on the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) office, beginning July 1.
In response to the legislative action, President Ed Seidel appointed a working group, which identified necessary changes to DEI on campus and compiled a report. In addition to cutting the DEI office, the working group also eliminated the requirement for job candidates to submit DEI statements and no longer allowed UW to annually evaluate employees’ commitment to DEI.
Seidel stated in the news release that the changes were supported by the UW Board of Trustees. He added that some initiatives may have previously been incorrectly categorized as DEI and that UW intends to continue supporting such programs.
“We received a strong message from the state’s elected officials to change our approach to DEI issues. At the same time, we have heard from our community that many of the services that might have incorrectly been categorized under DEI are important for the success of our students, faculty and staff,” Seidel stated in the news release. “These initial steps are a good-faith effort on the part of the university to respond to legislative action while maintaining essential services.”
According to the news release, the working group defined DEI programs and activities in part as those that “work to advantage or disadvantage individuals or groups” based on sex, race, and more. Seidel designated DEI programs as “advocating or promoting preferential treatment.”
Seidel said that if “preferential” programs—like the Wyoming Latina Youth Conference or Women in STEM—are deemed essential to help students, they will be privately funded in the future.
Certain activities and programs will not be affected, including nondiscrimination requirements, requirements needed for athletic and academic accreditation compliance, requirements for access programs for military veterans, first-generation or low-income college students, students with disabilities, and others.
“We understand these changes are difficult for some people to accept, just as there are some people who will see the changes as insufficient,” Seidel stated in the news release, adding that UW has received hundreds of comments from multiple perspectives regarding changes. “What I can say is that we are moving forward the best we can to meet the expectations of elected officials and the people of Wyoming and continue serving our students and communities.”
