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The University of Michigan is considering making changes to its diversity program, which is known for being one of the biggest advocates of diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education. Critics are questioning the effectiveness of the program and its impact on campus life, prompting the school to explore new approaches.
Written by Nicholas Confessore
The University of Michigan, known for its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, is considering making changes to its program amidst concerns about the impact of Donald J. Trump’s second presidency and the potential threats to such initiatives from the Republican party in government and academia.
The university’s governing body expressed their intention to set restrictions on diversity statements in the hiring and promotion process. They are considering reallocating funds from the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (D.E.I.) 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 public universities to reassess D.E.I. without being forced by laws. The board, which is mainly made up of Democrats and elected by state voters, usually makes decisions together. The state constitution gives the regents the power to control the university’s finances and oversee the school in general.
The regents are scheduled to meet on December 5th. However, discussions between the regents and other university officials have been met with strong opposition on Michigan’s campus recently. Administrators focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion (D.E.I.) have launched a campaign to address criticism of their efforts and protect their funding.
A rally was held on the Ann Arbor campus on Monday, where hundreds of supporters of diversity, equity, and inclusion (D.E.I.) came together.
One of the speakers, Pragya Choudhary, a junior, mentioned that she believes no one in the audience thinks the D.E.I. initiatives at this university are flawless. However, she emphasized that everyone present acknowledges that the university would be in a worse state without these initiatives.
Discussions on campus have highlighted a general lack of clarity about the purpose of the D.E.I. program and the intentions 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 does not seem to be on the table. There are also accusations that the regents are planning to eliminate the Go Blue Guarantee, a program that covers full tuition for low-income students from Michigan. However, the regents have stated that they actually aim to expand this program.
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