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The University of Michigan is reevaluating its diversity program, which is known for being a strong advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education. Critics are questioning the effectiveness and influence of the program on campus, prompting the school to consider implementing a new approach.
Written by Nicholas Confessore
The University of Michigan, known for its commitment to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education, is considering making adjustments to its program. This comes as colleges nationwide prepare for the second term of Donald J. Trump as president and potential challenges to diversity initiatives from the Republican government and academic institutions.
Members of the board in charge of the university expressed their intention to establish restrictions on diversity statements in the hiring and promotion process. Additionally, they are considering reallocating a portion of Michigan’s D.E.I. budget towards recruitment initiatives and tuition assistance for students from lower-income backgrounds.
Michigan is considering changes that would make it one of the first selective public universities to review Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives internally, rather than in response to legislative demands. The board overseeing the university is primarily made up of Democrats, who are elected by state voters and typically make decisions collectively. According to Michigan’s state constitution, the regents have the final say on the university’s finances and are responsible for overseeing the school in general.
The next meeting of the regents is scheduled for December 5th. However, recent conversations between the regents and university officials have generated strong opposition on the Michigan campus. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (D.E.I.) administrators are working to defend their work and secure their funding amidst criticism.
A large group of supporters of diversity, equity, and inclusion (D.E.I.) gathered on the campus of Ann Arbor for a rally on Monday.
One of the speakers, Pragya Choudhary, a junior, mentioned that she believes no one in the audience thinks the D.E.I. initiatives at the university are flawless. However, she also stated that everyone present acknowledges that the university would be in a worse state without those initiatives.
Discussions on campus have highlighted a general lack of clarity regarding 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, although this drastic measure does not seem to be on the table. There are also criticisms of the regents for allegedly considering cutting the Go Blue Guarantee, a program that covers full tuition for lower-income students from Michigan. However, the regents have stated that their goal is actually to expand the program.
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