University of Michigan Ends Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Programs

University of Michigan Shifts Focus, Phases Out Diversity Programs

The University of Michigan is making significant changes to its approach towards diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. This shift comes in the wake of executive orders from the Trump administration and internal evaluations, resulting in the closure of the university’s DEI office and related programs across the campus.

The announcement was made via a campus-wide email from President Santa Ono and other senior leaders, detailing the university’s decision to dismantle the Office for Health Equity and Inclusion at Michigan Medicine, among other measures.

Despite the closure, university officials acknowledged the positive impact of previous diversity efforts. “First-generation undergraduate students, for example, have increased 46% and undergraduate Pell recipients have increased by more than 32%, driven in part by impactful programs such as Go Blue Guarantee and Wolverine Pathways,” the email stated. The university leaders emphasized the ongoing challenges and successes in fostering inclusive excellence in higher education.

Historically, the University of Michigan has been at the forefront of diversity debates in academia, notably being involved in two Supreme Court cases in 2003 that resulted in partial restrictions on affirmative action programs at the university.

A New York Times report last year highlighted that the university had invested over $250 million in DEI initiatives since 2016, yet the efforts faced criticism from various quarters within the campus.

In 2023, the university unveiled its DEI 2.0 strategic plan, a five-year strategy set to extend through 2028. However, the recent decision discontinues this plan along with other DEI programs, as well as an update to university websites to remove DEI references.

University regent Sarah Hubbard expressed on social media platform “X” that the reallocation of funds from DEI initiatives will allow investment in other student programs. She noted, “We are eliminating bureaucratic overspending and making Michigan more accessible,” highlighting the expansion of the Go Blue Guarantee scholarship as a key benefit.

Editor’s note: The University of Michigan maintains the broadcast license for Michigan Public.