Almost 200 diversity, equity, and inclusion staff positions were either cut or reassigned across North Carolina's public university system to comply with a systemwide policy that required institutions to reassess their diversity efforts. The University of North Carolina Board of Governors reviewed the reports on Wednesday, evaluating actions that included diversity office closures and program changes. Millions of dollars were redirected to student success initiatives, such as recruitment efforts and scholarships, due to cuts and realignments.
In late May, the UNC Board of Governors replaced its 2019 diversity policy with a new policy focused on equality of viewpoints, freedom of speech, and institutional neutrality. This change left diversity positions and programs in limbo, sparking varying responses from campuses across the state.
Diversity efforts have been a contentious issue on college campuses, with some viewing them as discriminatory and others as essential for promoting equality. North Carolina's Republican legislative leaders have expressed concerns about diversity, prompting the UNC Board of Governors to intervene before potential legislation restricting diversity programs was introduced.
Following the new policy, universities were required to submit certification reports detailing eliminated positions, position reassignments, program changes, and financial savings from cuts. The reports, released over a week after the submission deadline, revealed that universities eliminated 59 positions and reassigned 131 more. UNC-Chapel Hill accounted for a third of the eliminated positions, while NC State led in position reassignments.
Universities also redirected over $17 million in total across the system towards student success initiatives. Concerns were raised during the board meeting about the impact of the policy on diverse recruitment and retention, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that universities remain welcoming to all students.
Compliance with the policy will be an ongoing process, with the reports serving as a crucial first step in assessing how campuses have adapted to the new guidelines.
