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Utah Gov. Spencer Cox signed a sweeping bill slashing diversity, equity and inclusion programs at the state’s education agencies and government offices, amid widespread nationwide backlash against such moves. The latest states to take action in the case.
The law prohibits any program, office or initiative that has “diversity, equity and inclusion” in its title or “claims that meritocracy is inherently racist or sexist.” It also requires student support services to be open to all students and prohibits activities that target students of certain races or genders.
Background: The law is part of a nationwide effort to crack down on diversity.
Since the beginning of 2023, at least 59 bills have been introduced in more than 20 states and in Congress that would weaken universities’ diversity efforts, such as hiring statements and mandatory training, The Chronicle of Higher Education reported. Eight have become law, including in North Dakota, Texas and North Carolina.
A Texas law went into effect in January banning DEI offices, diversity hiring statements and diversity training for faculty and staff. The University of Texas at Austin closed its Center for Multicultural Engagement last month due to the law. The University of Texas at Austin will no longer fund cultural events such as commencement ceremonies for black, Latino and Asian students, an official said, according to the student newspaper.
North Dakota’s law, which took effect in August, bans mandatory diversity training at the state’s public universities. It also prohibits applicants for hiring, tenure or promotion from being asked to “support or oppose a particular ideological or political view.”a tennessee law Ban public university employees from participating in mandatory training on implicit bias.
A closer look: The move signals a political shift in Utah.
Even though he leads a deeply conservative state, Governor Cox has branded himself as a moderate. Michael Lyons, a political science professor at Utah State University, said his acceptance of the DEI bill represents a somewhat surprising shift. (Mr. Cox also signed a separate bill Tuesday that would require transgender people to use public bathrooms that match their sex at birth.)
In a statement, Cox described the law, which takes effect in July, as a “balanced solution.”
“I’m grateful the Legislature did not follow other states and simply eliminate DEI funding and leave students who may be struggling with no other options,” he said. “Instead, this funding will be repurposed to help all Utah students succeed, regardless of What’s their background?”
Cox has previously said that some campus diversity efforts have “become very political” and that they “do more to divide us than unite us,” The Salt Lake Tribune reported.
Next steps: Campuses must grapple with these changes now.
Universities are trying to figure out what the bill means for their campuses. For example, Utah State University has a “Department of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.” It appears that the bill will at least require a name change.
The university acknowledges on its website that “structural changes” are likely to occur in the department, but adds that “the work of creating access, opportunity and belonging has always been shared by all USU employees and will continue to do so.”
Utah State’s recruiting practices don’t appear to be changing. The university noted that it phased out the use of diversity statements last spring and no longer allows their use.