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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 raising concerns about the program’s effectiveness and the impact it has on campus life.
Written by Nicholas Confessore
The University of Michigan is known for its strong support of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in higher education. In light of the upcoming second term of President Donald J. Trump and potential threats to these programs by the Republican party, the university is considering making changes to its own program.
Members of the university’s board of regents mentioned in interviews that they anticipate the board will propose restrictions on the use of diversity statements in the hiring and promotion process. Additionally, the board may consider reallocating a portion of Michigan’s diversity, equity, and inclusion budget towards programs focused on recruiting students and providing tuition assistance to those from lower-income backgrounds.
The proposed changes would position Michigan as one of the leading public universities to reevaluate diversity, equity, and inclusion internally, rather than in response to legislative mandates. The board of regents, elected by state voters, is predominantly made up of Democrats with a 6-2 majority and typically makes decisions through agreement. Regents have the final say over the university’s finances and provide overall supervision of the institution, according to Michigan’s state constitution.
The next meeting of the regents is scheduled for December 5th. However, initial talks between the regents and other university staff have resulted in strong opposition on the campus of Michigan in the past few days. Administrators in charge of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (D.E.I.) have launched a campaign to defend their work and secure their funding against criticism.
A large group of supporters for diversity, equity, and inclusion gathered on the campus in Ann Arbor for a rally on Monday.
During the event, a junior named Pragya Choudhary expressed that she believes no one in the audience believes the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (D.E.I.) initiatives at the university are flawless. However, she emphasized that everyone recognizes the importance of these initiatives in making the university a better place.
There is widespread confusion 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. efforts, but it doesn’t seem like that is being considered. There are also concerns about the regents planning to eliminate the Go Blue Guarantee, which covers full tuition for lower-income students from Michigan. However, the regents actually want to expand this program.
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