House Bill 261, known as the “Equal Opportunity Initiatives,” is a new Utah state law that took effect on July 1, 2024, focused on governing diversity efforts on campus and in other government-funded spaces.
The legislation prohibits Utah’s public education institutions, higher education entities, and government employers from providing preferential treatment based on a person’s race or other characteristics. It also mandates that student services be universally accessible and not tailored to individual identity groups.
The University of Utah (U of U) has closed four cultural centers in compliance with House Bill 261, is making significant structural changes within its Office of Student Affairs, and is updating DEI-specific language used across campus.
In a statement addressing the changes, U of U officials wrote, “In January 2024, the Utah Legislature passed House Bill 261 to reshape diversity initiatives at state colleges and universities. The University of Utah remains committed to its core missions and belief in the intrinsic value of every member of the U community. And as a public institution, the university will follow state law.” The announcement includes new “suggested language for landing pages, mission statements, student programs, and other uses.”
The restructuring resulted in the closure of four centers: the Center for Equity and Student Belonging, the Black Cultural Center, the LGBT Resource Center, and the Women’s Resource Center. The staff from these centers will be reassigned. However, some job descriptions, titles, and roles will change to align with the new structure and requirements.
According to Vice President for Student Affairs Lori McDonald, the university is changing its approach to student support to comply with the new legal requirements.
“As we’ve evaluated how best to comply with the legislation, I want to be clear that we’ve faced very difficult decisions,” McDonald said in a recent update to the university community. “The law and subsequent guidance require a foundational change in how we approach student support, and we will follow the law. This isn’t about changing the words we use; we’re changing how we approach the work.”
The restructuring represents a significant shift in how diversity and student support services are provided at U of U. However, university leaders remain optimistic that the revised structure will continue to meet the needs of the student body while complying with the new state law.
