The DEI Initiative at the University of North Carolina System is Repealed

The University of North Carolina (UNC) system, consisting of 17 schools, is discontinuing the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) ideology, as reported by the Raleigh News & Observer reported.

The governing board made the decision to approve a new policy and replace the previous directives from 2019 that mandated each school to have a chief diversity officer.

“Non-discrimination, institutional neutrality, free expression, and academic freedom are all important concepts and values,” stated UNC system President Peter Hans. “We are committed to serving all individuals, not just those who share our views. By upholding these principles, we create an environment where diversity can thrive in all its forms.”

The practice of including diversity statements in hiring and admissions processes has sparked controversy and been viewed as a political test rather than an assessment of qualifications. UNC is the latest institution to abandon this practice and return to a nondiscriminatory system.

Prior to this change, the UNC system was spending $90 million annually on DEI-related salaries for nearly 700 staff members, according to the Washington Examiner. The transition to the new policy raises questions about job cuts, as the goal is to shift focus away from administrative activism on social and political matters, as stated by the Raleigh News & Observer.

The flagship campus at Chapel Hill recently redirected $2.3 million from diversity spending to public safety and policing.

The move to remove DEI ideologies from public institutions gained momentum in recent years, with 40 bills introduced in 22 states to restrict DEI initiatives, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education. As of May 2024, 10 bills limiting DEI influence have been signed into law by governors in several states.

The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) argued that DEI statements often compel faculty to conform to specific ideological viewpoints.

A 2021 study by the American Enterprise Institute revealed that 19% of university job postings required diversity statements, and 68% mentioned diversity in some form.