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The University of Michigan is considering making changes to its diversity program, which is known for being a strong advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education. Critics are questioning the program’s effectiveness and how it impacts campus life, leading the school to explore new approaches.
Written by Nicholas Confessore
The University of Michigan, known for its strong support of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in higher education, is considering making changes to its own program. This comes as colleges nationwide prepare for Donald J. Trump’s second presidency and potential Republican challenges to these initiatives in government and academia.
Members of the university’s board of regents expressed their intention to propose restrictions on the use of diversity statements in the hiring and promotion process. They are also considering reallocating a portion of the university’s diversity, equity, and inclusion budget towards recruitment efforts and financial aid for students from lower-income backgrounds.
Michigan is considering changes that would make it one of the first selective public universities to reevaluate diversity, equity, and inclusion (D.E.I.) without external pressure. The board overseeing the university is made up of mostly Democrats and is elected by state voters. They typically make decisions through agreement. The state constitution grants the board of regents significant power over the university’s finances and overall supervision of the institution.
The next meeting of the regents is scheduled for December 5th. However, recent conversations between the regents and university officials have faced strong opposition from the Michigan campus community. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion administrators are actively defending their work and advocating for continued funding.
A large group of supporters of diversity, equity, and inclusion gathered on the campus in Ann Arbor on Monday for a rally.
One speaker, junior Pragya Choudhary, acknowledged that the D.E.I. initiatives at the university are not flawless, but emphasized that they are essential for making the university a better place.
The discussions have highlighted a general lack of understanding on campus about the purpose of the D.E.I. program and the goals of the regents. Some faculty and students are concerned that the regents may completely cut funding for the school’s D.E.I. initiatives, but this drastic measure is not being considered. There are also criticisms against the regents for allegedly planning to eliminate the Go Blue Guarantee, a program that offers full tuition for lower-income students from Michigan. However, the regents have stated that they actually want to increase support for this program.
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