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The University of Michigan is exploring potential adjustments to its diversity program, which is known for its strong support of diversity, equity, and inclusion (D.E.I.) in higher education. This comes as critics raise concerns about the program’s effectiveness and influence on campus culture.
Written by Nicholas Confessore
The University of Michigan, known for its strong support of diversity, equity, and inclusion, is considering making changes to its program in light of potential challenges from the incoming second term of President Donald J. Trump and the Republican party’s opposition to these initiatives in both government and academia.
Members of the governing body for the university mentioned in interviews that they anticipate the board will propose restrictions on diversity statements in the hiring and promotion process. Additionally, there are discussions about reallocating a portion of Michigan’s D.E.I. budget towards recruitment initiatives and financial aid for students from lower-income backgrounds.
Michigan is considering changes that would position it as one of the first selective public universities to review its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (D.E.I.) policies internally, rather than in response to legislative mandates. The board overseeing the university is mainly composed of Democrats, with a 6-2 majority, and is elected by state voters. The board typically makes decisions through consensus. According to Michigan’s state constitution, the regents have the final say over the university’s finances and provide general supervision of the school.
The next meeting of the regents is scheduled for December 5th. However, there has been strong opposition on Michigan’s campus in response to initial conversations between the regents and other university officials. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (D.E.I.) administrators are actively defending their work and advocating for continued funding amid criticism.
A large group of supporters for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (D.E.I.) came together on the Ann Arbor campus for a rally on Monday.
One of the speakers, a junior named Pragya Choudhary, mentioned that no one in the audience believes the D.E.I. initiatives at the university are flawless. However, she emphasized that everyone present understands that without these initiatives, the university would be in a worse state.
Discussions on campus have highlighted a lack of clarity about the purpose of the D.E.I. program and the plans of the regents. There are concerns among some faculty and students that the regents might completely withdraw funding for the school’s D.E.I. initiatives, although this extreme action does not seem to be on the table. Some have criticized the regents for allegedly planning to eliminate the school’s Go Blue Guarantee, a program that covers full tuition for lower-income students from Michigan. However, the regents have actually expressed their desire to expand this program.
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