The University of Michigan Board of Regents did not vote on whether to defund its diversity, equity, and inclusion program at its final meeting of the year. However, they decided to no longer require diversity statements for faculty members during hiring or promotion, a significant change for the university. The board did not directly address the rumors of discontinuing the DEI program but clarified that there are no plans to make cuts to these initiatives.
The board also announced an increase in household income requirements for the Go Blue Guarantee program, which grants tuition-free admission to high-achieving in-state students. The income threshold was raised from $65,000 to $125,000 to make education more accessible and equitable for students across the state. Board members spoke in support of the program, emphasizing the importance of providing opportunities regardless of economic background.
Some students and faculty members expressed support for the DEI program during the meeting, urging the board to prioritize diversity on campus. However, there were dissenting voices, with one professor advocating for the elimination of all DEI programs, referring to them as “discrimination” and criticising affirmative action as part of the DEI industrial complex.
President-elect Donald Trump has promised to scale back DEI programs at federally funded colleges, while some states have already banned DEI initiatives at state-funded universities. Despite the controversy, the board did not vote to defund the DEI program at the University of Michigan.
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