The University of Kentucky (UK) and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) announced the closure of their DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) offices this week, reflecting a growing trend among universities in conservative stronghold states where diversity initiatives are being scrutinized or curtailed.
UK President Eli Capilouto announced the decision to disband the university’s Office for Institutional Diversity in response to concerns from state lawmakers and campus stakeholders. In an email to the campus community, Capilouto emphasized that the university’s core values, including the protection of academic freedom and fostering a sense of belonging, remain intact. However, he acknowledged the concerns that the focus on identity in DEI efforts might have inadvertently stifled political discourse and made the university appear partisan.
This stands in contrast to statements Capilouto made to the Kentucky legislature early this year, in which he argued that DEI policies were a positive force on campus that did not exclude certain points of view or ideas.
“I don’t believe that’s the norm on our campus. But as a learning community and a public institution, we must always acknowledge that we can improve by listening and responding,” he told lawmakers in February. “Let’s not extinguish the thirst for knowledge because certain questions aren’t allowed because they are uncomfortable or challenging.”
The restructuring at UK involves shifting those units previously housed under the Office for Institutional Diversity into other areas on campus, including a newly established Office for Community Relations. Capilouto offered assurance that no jobs would be lost in the process and stated that the university would no longer mandate centralized diversity training or include required diversity statements in hiring processes. The university’s website will also be revised to avoid political positions, aiming to maintain impartiality.
Similarly, UNL, under the leadership of Chancellor Rodney Bennett, announced the dissolution of its Office of Diversity and Inclusion this week. Bennett, who became the university’s first Black chancellor last year, stated that the tasks of promoting diversity and community belonging would be redistributed across several other administrative offices. The Chancellor’s Advisory Board on Community and Belonging will replace the existing Diversity Advisory Board, ensuring that efforts to create an inclusive environment continue, albeit through a decentralized approach.
“These offices will closely coordinate with each other and with colleges and support units to ensure that each member of our campus community knows that they are valued and supported,” Bennett wrote in a statement. “Let me be unequivocal — we will steadfastly uphold the principle that every person and every interaction matters, and we will continue to recruit and support faculty, staff, and students from all backgrounds and identities.”
Bennett’s decision comes despite previous opposition from the University of Nebraska system to legislative efforts aimed at banning inclusion initiatives. Just months ago, the system’s interim chancellor, Chris Kabourek, testified against a bill that would have prohibited DEI programming, arguing that such measures could harm the university’s ability to attract a diverse student body and faculty.
