UVA governing board this week also votes to create working group ‘to promote open inquiry, constructive conversation across differences, and development of a civic mindset’
In early March, the University of Virginia’s governing board voted to shut down all diversity, equity and inclusion offices and end all DEI programs at its campuses statewide. The decision was met with much fanfare, including praise by Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who backed the move.
University President Jim Ryan was told to report back within 30 days to update the board on the progress in complying with the directive. Problem is, he hasn’t really done that.
Enter the U.S. Department of Justice, which sent a demand letter on Monday to Ryan telling him to provide proof by May 2 that DEI has been eradicated at the University of Virginia.
“The Department has received complaints that your office and the University may have failed to implement these directives and further that you have refused to produce the report on the matter,” states the letter, signed by Harmeet Dhillon, assistant attorney general for the department’s civil rights division and a UVA alumnus.
Ryan has balked publicly over the Trump administration’s attempts to rein in DEI, serving as the only public university president to join hundreds of private ones in condemning what they contend is President Trump’s overreach, the Daily Progress reported April 23.
But the DOJ is now demanding Ryan and UVA certify every division, department, unit, system, program and school, including the School of Law, School of Medicine, and Nursing School, has fully ended all DEI programs. Its letter further adds the university must provide specifics on which departments, programs, and preference systems were terminated.
“Further, for every employee, student, faculty member, or administrator who formerly occupied a position with any DEI responsibilities … identify whether that individual’s position and title have been eliminated, whether the individual is still associated with the University in any official or unofficial, paid or unpaid capacity, and, if so, the name and nature of that individual’s current title or position,” states the letter, a copy of which was obtained by The College Fix.
“The Department of Justice expects your complete candor and prompt response to this request.”
This week, the Board of Visitors, during a special meeting, approved a resolution to rescind measures put forth by a Racial Equity Task Force in 2020 supporting racial quotas.
The resolution stated that while working to end DEI is a good first step, “additional work remains to be done to ensure and advance open inquiry at the University.”
The board voted to have campus leaders create a working group “comprised of members of the Board of Visitors, administrators, faculty, and a student representative to consider non-partisan efforts to promote open inquiry, constructive conversation across differences, and development of a civic mindset.”
According to a post by Bacon’s Rebellion, a UVA watchdog, “The substance of the resolution makes it clear that the Board does not trust President Jim Ryan to undertake the job on his own but requires much tighter oversight.”
MORE: UVA board votes to shut down DEI office, programs systemwide
IMAGE CAPTION AND CREDIT: Pictured is the side of the Justice Department building in Washington, D.C. / Mark Van Scyoc, Shutterstock
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