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University of Michigan is considering making changes to its diversity program, which has been widely supported in higher education for promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion. The school is reevaluating its approach in response to critics who have raised concerns about the program’s effectiveness and its influence on campus culture.
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 challenges to these initiatives from Republicans in government and academia.
Members of the board in charge of the university mentioned in discussions that they anticipate the board will propose restrictions on diversity statements in hiring and promotion processes. Additionally, there may be a consideration to allocate a greater 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 set it apart as one of the first selective public universities to reevaluate D.E.I. practices internally, rather than in response to legislative mandates. The board, which is elected by state voters and mostly comprised of Democrats, has a 6-2 majority and typically makes decisions through consensus. The state constitution gives the regents authority over the university’s finances and general management of the school.
The regents have a meeting scheduled for Dec. 5, but talks among them and other university officials have faced strong opposition on Michigan’s campus lately. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion administrators are working to defend their work and maintain their funding amidst criticism.
A large group of supporters for diversity, equity, and inclusion gathered on the campus in Ann Arbor for a rally on Monday.
One of the speakers, Pragya Choudhary, a junior, expressed that she believes no one in the audience thinks the D.E.I. initiatives at the university are flawless. However, she is confident that everyone present understands that without these initiatives, the university would be in a worse state.
The discussions on campus have highlighted a general lack of understanding 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 action does not seem to be on the table. There are also accusations that the regents are planning to eliminate the Go Blue Guarantee, which covers full tuition for lower-income students from Michigan. However, the regents have stated that they actually want to expand this program.
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