By Clayton Henkin
North Carolinians are getting their first look at the impact of the UNC System’s decision to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs from its campuses.
The UNC Board of Governors voted in May to repeal the policy in favor of “principled neutrality.” Campuses within the system had until September 1st to issue reports on how they followed the new directive, detailing the steps taken to achieve that compliance.
Andrew Tripp, the UNC System’s senior vice president and general counsel, told the Board of Governors on Wednesday that a total of 59 positions had been eliminated and 132 were realigned to other areas.
“I believe the reports on their face document significant effort by each campus to reemphasize student success, employ well-being and institutional neutrality,” Tripp said.
Larger campuses had more work to remove DEI initiatives, while the smaller campuses less so, according to Tripp.
The so-called ‘Equality Certification’ reported savings of $17 million by eliminating specific DEI initiatives.
More than $16 million of that $17 million has been redirected to “student success” efforts.
The largest cuts were seen at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where 20 positions were eliminated and 27 realigned, saving the school $5.3 million.
At NC State, eight positions were eliminated and 29 realigned.
“Job descriptions, the missions of student support centers, employee training, and the programmatic content presented to students changed,” Tripp explained in detailing some of the changes. “Some campuses have already scrubbed their websites; others are continuing to do that. That is a Herculean task that will continue for sure.”
At Appalachian State University, the school’s Intercultural Student Affairs Office was eliminated and a new center for student success and community was created.
“No longer will App State provide dedicated space to specific identity-based student groups. Instead, all student organizations will fall under their Office of Campus Activities,” said Tripp.
At UNC-Asheville, the school has redirected DEI funds to beefing up curricular support for the education programs tasked with producing teachers that can be licensed in North Carolina.
Board member Joel Ford, who is Black and voted ‘no’ in abandoning the diversity and equity policy in May, said he still had reservations about how the public, specifically minority students, may view the new neutrality policy. “When we went through this exercise of the repeal and replace, I’m not sure it was clear to the public, that our institutions still have the ability to attract and retain minority students, that all of our institutions are making sure that everyone is welcome and we’re being inclusive,” said Ford.
Ford said System President Peter Hans needed “to step up” and make sure the public understands the university system is committed to remaining open to all. “It is our job and responsibility to educate everyone and to do our best to retain and graduate them with as little amount of debt as possible,” Ford stressed. Hans reassured Ford that their mission and commitment had not changed.
“That remains our obligation under federal law, state law, and our moral obligation as well.” said Hans.
See below to view the cuts in DEI programs at individual college campuses in the UNC system.
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