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Both the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Pittsburgh recently announced they are shutting down their diversity, equity and inclusion operations in the wake of increased enforcement against such programs from the Trump administration, which has called them discriminatory and threated funding cuts over them.
But both universities appear to be maintaining some of the DEI-inspired programs and goals despite the shutdowns. What’s more, no employees are being laid off at the University of Pittsburgh, simply transferred or reassigned, according to a statement from campus leaders.
UW-Madison is shutting down its Division of Diversity, Equity and Education Achievement.
In a statement July 9 to the campus community, Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin announced some staff and programs will be shuffled to different departments. There are also a “small number” of positions terminated as a result of the shut down, Mnookin stated.
“DDEEA has been the home for a set of scholarship-linked student support activities that serve approximately 5% of our student body. These programs, which provide holistic academic support for students receiving specific scholarships, will largely be relocated to the Division for Teaching and Learning, along with the leaders and academic advisors supporting this work,” Mnookin stated.
“DDEEA also provided some important employee support functions that will move to the Office of Human Resources, and DDEEA had several individuals focused on institutional data collection who will move to join Data, Academic Planning & Institutional Research,” she stated.
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos applauded the decision, telling the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel he is “glad to see the UW System finally getting rid of this awful waste of taxpayer dollars.”
“We need less indoctrination and more effort to provide students with usable skills and knowledge to help them get a good paying job,” the Republican lawmaker said.
The University of Pittsburgh also recently shut down its Office for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.
A message from University of Pittsburgh Chancellor Joan Gabel “notified the school community on June 30 that the office was being replaced by the Office of Institutional Engagement and Wellbeing,” Trib Live reported.
Pitt’s new office “will ensure oversight and support in key areas such as civil rights and Title IX compliance, (Americans with Disabilities Act) accessibility and accommodations, sexual misconduct prevention education, and the monitoring of institutional progress on campus climate and student success,” the announcement stated.
However, the University Times noted the letter pointed out the new office aims to build upon the foundation established by the former DEI office: “This change reflects a strategic realignment to more effectively and holistically support our University community’s engagement and wellbeing. In addition to compliance, it will focus on proactive education, institutional accountability, and fostering a positive and welcoming campus climate.”
The Times reported the “approximately 25 employees from OEDI will be transitioning to the new office. There will be no terminations because of this transition, although some job functions may change.”
The announcements come after the Office for Civil Rights in February issued a “Dear Colleague letter” that argues because DEI programs often discriminate based on race, they violate Title VI.
While dozens of university in recent years have shut down their DEI operations in the wake of Republican legislation or pressure from the Trump administration, a large chunk — like the University of Pittsburgh — opted to rename and revamp the office.
A College Fix survey published in June looked at news reports, press releases and institutional websites to determine that over the last two years, at least 87 schools effectively renamed their DEI offices.
In contrast, 78 schools appeared to actually close their DEI offices and did not launch a similar program. In these cases, some employees or positions were terminated. Many of these closures were located in Republican strongholds.
Editor’s note: The post has been updated to clarify there are a small number of DEI positions being terminated at UW-Madison.
MORE: Nearly 90 universities have rebranded their DEI offices, College Fix survey finds
IMAGE CAPTION AND CREDIT: A person with a closed sign / Nampix. Shutterstock
