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The University of Michigan is considering 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 effectiveness of the program and its impact on campus life, prompting the school to explore new approaches.
Authored 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 challenges to these initiatives from Republicans in government and academia.
Members of the board of regents for the university expressed their intention to set restrictions on diversity statements used in the hiring and promotion processes. Additionally, there are plans to allocate a larger portion of Michigan’s diversity, equity, and inclusion budget towards recruitment initiatives and financial aid for students from low-income backgrounds.
Michigan is considering changes that would differentiate it as one of the first public universities to independently reassess diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives without external pressure. The board, primarily consisting of Democrats, is elected by state voters and typically makes decisions through agreement. Regents have significant authority over the university’s finances and overall management according to Michigan’s state constitution.
The next meeting of the regents is scheduled for December 5th. However, there has been strong opposition on the campus of Michigan in response to initial conversations between the regents and other university officials. Administrators focusing on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (D.E.I.) have launched a campaign to defend their work and secure their funding.
A large group of supporters for diversity, equity, and inclusion came together on the campus in Ann Arbor for a rally on Monday.
One speaker, a junior named Pragya Choudhary, expressed that she believes no one in the audience thinks the D.E.I. initiatives at the university are flawless. However, she emphasized that everyone present understands that the university would be in a worse state without these initiatives.
The discussions have highlighted a general lack of understanding on campus about the purpose of the D.E.I. program and the intentions of the regents. Some faculty and students fear that the regents may completely cut funding for the school’s D.E.I. initiatives, although this drastic measure does not seem to be on the table. There are also concerns about the regents potentially eliminating the Go Blue Guarantee, which covers full tuition for lower-income students from Michigan. However, the regents have stated that they actually aim to expand the program.
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