University Of Michigan Overhauls Massive DEI Program
The University of Michigan announced Thursday it is ending its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) program. The massive DEI bureaucracy is the largest and most expensive in the nation, totaling over $250 million since…
The University of Michigan announced Thursday it is ending its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) program.
The massive DEI bureaucracy is the largest and most expensive in the nation, totaling over $250 million since 2016. The university has been considering shuttering the program as far back as November but finally announced its plan to “evolve” its approach, which includes closing its DEI office, ending its strategic plan and reviewing “all policies, programs and practices.”
“Student-facing services in ODEI will shift to other offices, which will continue to support access and opportunity,” the university wrote. A UM spokesman did not clarify whether DEI staff would just be relocated to other departments.
“Since the inception of our DEI strategic plan in 2016, we have made important progress in opening opportunities and supporting the success of all students,” the announcement says. “Over the course of our strategic efforts, we have heard strong pride in the university’s support for student-facing programs. We have also heard concerns about the balance of resources between administration and direct student support. Some in our campus community have voiced frustration that they did not feel included in DEI initiatives and that the programming fell short in fostering connections among diverse groups.”
“The University of Michigan is moving forward with important changes to our diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs,” Kay Jarvis, UM’s director of public affairs, told the Daily Caller News Foundation. “In a message today to the Ann Arbor campus and Michigan Medicine, the university announced it will reallocate funding away from administrative functions and toward student-facing initiatives that directly enhance student success and foster a sense of belonging for all members of our community. This will include closing the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and the Office for Health Equity and Inclusion and discontinuing the DEI 2.0 strategic plan, among other changes.”