A UNC Board of Governors committee has passed a policy that could lead to the elimination of diversity, equity, and inclusion officers on all 17 UNC system campuses.
In an uncommon move, the University Governance committee did not discuss the new policy at all before unanimously passing it on Wednesday. It still needs to be voted on by the full Board of Governors in May.
The change replaces a that created the DEI positions and data reporting at all 16 public North Carolina universities, and the NC School of Science and Mathematics. This includes a UNC System Diversity and Inclusion liaison and , as well as individual institutional DEI officers.
The wording of the makes it clear that, according to the UNC System, the DEI offices and officers do not 鈥渁dhere to and comply with the strictures of institutional neutrality鈥� as outlined in North Carolina鈥檚 Campus Free Speech law that
鈥淭he changes do three things,鈥� said Andrew Tripp, senior vice president and general counsel for the UNC System, in his short introduction to the Board of the new policy language. 鈥淭hey replace (the existing policy), they reaffirm the university鈥檚 commitment to non-discrimination and institutional neutrality, and they direct chancellors across the System.鈥�
The committee then quickly voted on the new policy and immediately went into closed session.
Tripp is the former Chief of Staff to Republican Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger.
If the new policy passes the full Board of Governors, individual chancellors will be required to send UNC System President Peter Hans a report by September 1 that details how their universities comply with 鈥渋nstitutional neutrality.鈥� The policy mandates that chancellors take certain 鈥渁ctions鈥� to meet compliance, including reducing 鈥渇orce and spending鈥� for DEI programs, and changing job titles and position descriptions.
Along with the certification report to Hans, chancellors must suggest ways to redirect funding from disbanded DEI programming to 鈥渟tudent success鈥� initiatives.
Most universities in the UNC System have robust DEI offices with chief diversity officers, support staff and student ambassadors. For example, offices at Appalachian State, North Carolina State, UNC Pembroke and other universities also include specific coordinators for accessibility, cultural, LGBTQ, women, and other communities.
Schools also have website hubs for DEI efforts. This includes events, , , , and .
These efforts, as well as DEI staff positions, are almost assuredly in jeopardy with the new policy. It鈥檚 unclear if staff will be fired or moved to different positions within their universities.
North Carolina is one of many states changing their DEI policies. According to the Chronicle of Higher Education since 2023. Ten states, including , and , have signed some form of anti-DEI legislation into law.
