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University of Michigan to end diversity statements: 'Potential to limit freedom of expression'

The eight-member faculty working group who recommended the end of the use of diversity statements consisted of "individuals with relevant expertise."

"Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) are three of our core values at the university. Our collective efforts in this area have produced important strides in opening opportunities for all people," McCauley said. "As we pursue this challenging and complex work, we will continuously refine our approach."

The University of Michigan is ending its requirement for diversity statements for their faculty hiring, promotion, and tenure. (Raymond Boyd/Getty Images)

Separately, the University of Michigan Board of Regents, which has a 6-2 Democratic majority, has also had discussions about the future of the bureaucracy associated with DEI initiatives at the university.

"We're not really seeing the needle moving related to diversity of thought, in particular, on campus, let alone diversity in other ways. I have been asking a lot of questions since I was first elected to this board," Hubbard said.

The eight-member faculty working group who recommended the end of the use of diversity statements consisted of "individuals with relevant expertise." (Photo by Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images)

Another member of UM's board of regents, Mark Bernstein, told the Times that the money used for DEI could be used for the students.

"It is my hope that our efforts in D.E.I. focus on redirecting funding directly to students and away from a bloated administrative bureaucracy," Benstein said.

The Times reported further that the board of regents "look to shift more of Michigan’s overall D.E.I. budget into recruitment programs and tuition guarantees for lower-income students."

The board is a governing body elected by Michigan voters to manage UM’s finances and overall operations of the institution.

One student called UM’s diversity efforts "superficial" and, despite the institution’s programs, they betrayed "a general discomfort with naming Blackness explicitly."

Princess-J’Maria Mboup, the speaker of the university’s Black Student Union, told the Times that "the students that are most affected by D.E.I. — meaning marginalized communities — are invested in the work, but not in D.E.I. itself."

View of Michigan logo on wall before game at Michigan Stadium.  (Simon Bruty /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)

The Times also cited UM's own data reflecting that the institution's pursuit of DEI resulted in a less inclusive environment via a survey in 2022. The Times reported that the data showed "students and faculty members reported a less positive campus climate than at the program’s start and less of a sense of belonging."