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The University of Michigan (UM) has decided to eliminate the requirement of diversity statements for hiring, promotion, and tenure decisions. This decision was based on the recommendation of an eight-member faculty working group established by Provost Laurie McCauley. The group reasoned that mandating diversity statements could potentially limit freedom of expression and diversity of thought on campus, as stated in the university’s press release. Despite this change, McCauley emphasized that UM remains committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts.
The University of Michigan is eliminating mandatory diversity statements for hiring.
Another win for sanity! đź‘Ź pic.twitter.com/3tIrm2XMcd
— Hunter Estes (@realHunterEstes) December 5, 2024
McCauley asserted, “Diversity, equity and inclusion 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. As we pursue this challenging and complex work, we will continuously refine our approach.”
Notably, this announcement coincides with the university’s Board of Regents’ expected vote on whether to dismantle or restructure its multi-million dollar DEI program. The DEI program at the university has faced harsh criticism due to allegations that it may be contributing to strained race relations on campus.
Manufactured diversity doesn’t work. The University of Michigan spent $250M on DEI programs only to have a more hostile campus:
“Students were less likely to interact with people of a different race or religion or with different politics” pic.twitter.com/niz75wDvrZ
— Neetu Arnold (@neetu_arnold) October 16, 2024
Before arriving at its conclusion, the working group surveyed nearly 2,000 faculty members and reviewed literature and policies from other institutions. “Critics of diversity statements perceive them as expressions of personal identity traits, support of specific ideology or opinions on socially-relevant issues, and serve as a ‘litmus test’ of whether a faculty member’s views are politically acceptable,” the working group wrote in its report, according to the university’s news release. “Thus, as currently enacted, diversity statements have the potential to limit viewpoints and reduce diversity of thought among faculty members.”
The University of Michigan did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
