News Summary
The University of North Carolina System has enacted a new policy prohibiting offices dedicated to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). This decision follows a Supreme Court ruling deeming race-conscious admissions unconstitutional, raising concerns about diversity promotion in education and employment. Institutions like UNC Charlotte emphasize maintaining student success initiatives, while JCSU warns of negative impacts on historically Black colleges. Despite changes, the UNC System reports a rise in student enrollment. The Board aims to redirect DEI funds towards student retention and success programs.
Chapel Hill, North Carolina — The University of North Carolina System is implementing a new policy that prohibits its institutions from maintaining offices dedicated to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). This significant shift in policy is a direct result of a Supreme Court ruling from June 2023, which found race-conscious college admissions unconstitutional.
Experts in employment and education express concern that these changes may hinder efforts to promote diversity in the workforce and negatively affect the pipeline of diverse candidates entering various fields. Additionally, the UNC Board of Governors voted in May 2024 to replace its previous Policy on Diversity and Inclusion with a policy focused on neutrality.
In response to the new systemwide policy, UNC Charlotte asserts that the changes aim to safeguard faculty academic freedom while maintaining a focus on initiatives that ensure student success. Some initiatives highlighted by the university include mentorship programs targeted at first-generation college students and networking events for students who share similar personal identities.
The rollback of DEI initiatives within the UNC System mirrors movements at other institutions, such as the University of Kentucky, which has decommissioned its DEI center. Similarly, in October 2023, Wisconsin state legislators voted to withhold pay raises for state university employees due to ongoing conflicts over DEI initiatives.
Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU), a prominent private historically Black college, has raised alarms regarding the potential adverse effects of these policy changes. JCSU President Valerie Kinloch noted that DEI has long been an integral component of the institution’s foundation and criticized the decision by the UNC Board of Governors as a disadvantage for students. Kinloch emphasized the need for a broader interpretation of diversity that encompasses more than just racial considerations.
JCSU is notably impacted by these developments as approximately 99% of its 1,300 student population depends on federal funding from loans, grants, and other forms of financial assistance. The institution benefits from Title III funding, which is specifically designed to support historically Black colleges and universities to facilitate better student outcomes. Concerns regarding potential cuts to student services and aid have been raised by the university’s senior vice president for strategic enrollment.
Despite the ongoing DEI policy transitions, the UNC System has recently reported an increase in student enrollment, with nearly 248,000 students enrolled for the current semester—a rise of over 2%. Every one of the 16 campuses within the UNC System has reported enrollment gains, with NC Central University experiencing the most substantial growth at 7.7%. These increases are particularly notable against a backdrop of impending demographic shifts that predict a decline in the population of high school graduates in the forthcoming years.
To counter any future enrollment challenges, the UNC System is adopting strategic measures, including keeping tuition rates constant, simplifying financial aid processes, and bolstering efforts to enroll out-of-state students. Furthermore, the System intends to reallocate funds that were previously dedicated to DEI efforts to enhance programs focused on student success, with an emphasis on improving retention and graduation rates. The Board of Governors’ stated aim with the alterations to DEI policies is to ensure that public institutions within North Carolina reflect the diversity of the state’s residents.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
UNC System Suspends DEI Course Requirement Amid Federal Push
Western Carolina University Closes Intercultural Affairs Office
Western Carolina University Administrator Terminated Over DEI Video
Backlash Over DEI Initiatives at UNC Charlotte
UNC Asheville Terminates Dean of Students Over DEI Controversy
UNC Charlotte Administrator Terminated Over DEI Video
Trump Administration Intensifies Visa Revisions for Chinese Students
Trump Administration Strengthens Antisemitism Screening for Foreign Students
Trump Administration Alters Arts Funding Landscape
UNC Charlotte’s LGBTQ Mental Health Research Grant Canceled
Additional Resources
- Higher Ed Dive
- Wikipedia: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- News & Observer
- Google Search: diversity equity inclusion policy North Carolina
- Charlotte Observer
- Google Scholar: diversity equity inclusion in education
- Charlotte Post
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Diversity
- College Fix
- Google News: UNC Charlotte DEI policy
