The University of Michigan Board of Regents did not vote on defunding its diversity, equity, and inclusion program at its final meeting of the year following campus protests to keep the program intact. Instead, the board decided to no longer require diversity statements for faculty during hiring or promotion, a significant change for the university. The board stated that there are no plans to make cuts to these programs.
Additionally, the board increased the household income requirements for a program that provides tuition-free admission to qualified students. The Go Blue Guarantee now grants free tuition to high-achieving in-state students with family incomes below $125,000, up from $65,000. The aim is to make education at the school more accessible and equitable across the state.
While some took interviews and reports to mean the board would vote to defund the DEI program, no such decision was made. More than 500 students, faculty, and staff members rallied on campus to object to the potential disruption of the program for the 51,000-student campus. There were concerns about President-elect Donald Trump’s promise to pull back on DEI at federally-funded colleges, as well as other states banning DEI programs at state-funded universities.
Some individuals, such as physics professor Keith Riles, called for the elimination of all DEI programs, labeling them as discriminatory and corrosive. Despite differing views on the effectiveness and purpose of the DEI program, the board’s decision not to vote on defunding the program was a relief to many supporters, who emphasized the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion on campus.
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