The University of
Michigan
The University of Michigan’s Flint campus is combating the Trump administration’s initiatives aimed at
disassemble variety, fairness, and inclusiveness
programs.
The university has invested $250 million in pioneering initiatives for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), yet threats of retracting federal support led President Santa Ono to discontinue the program on Thursday.
Nevertheless, the university’s Flint campus sent out a communication to the public stating that
They won’t be getting rid of their DEI office.
, but would rather relaunch the program under a different title.
Flint’s DEI office has been renamed the Wolverine Hub for Opportunity, Persistence, and Excellence, commonly known as HOPE.
“We do not expect any decrease in staffing as a result of this change; however, certain staff titles will be updated, and job descriptions will be revisited to guarantee the necessary level of accessibility for our students,” stated University of Michigan-Flint Chancellor Laurence B. Alexander in the correspondence viewed by LIFEHACK.
The message went on to state that the university leadership would carry on
Supporting cultural events, fostering an inclusive atmosphere, and enabling thoughtful dialogues.
Alexander mentioned that the university will assess its online platform to ensure adherence to updated federal regulations; however, no modifications will occur within individual departments.
The chancellor further explained that the campus’s human resources department would adjust job listings to remove references to an applicant’s identity or their dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
‘We understand that recent policy discussions at the national level may raise questions or uncertainty. Please know that we will continue to monitor governmental activity and are committed to providing clarity and updates as needed,’ the letter continued.
The correspondence directly tackled UM-Flint’s strategy for addressing Trump’s DEI initiatives. President Ono hasn’t disclosed whether analogous measures will be adopted across the institution’s remaining campuses.
Michigan boasts three campuses: Ann Arbor, Dearborn, and Flint. The primary campus, located in Ann Arbor, emphasizes research activities.
Flint and Dearborn boast higher acceptance rates along with lower admission fees, and these three campuses receive separate funding.
In both the Ann Arbor and Flint campuses, a DEI Strategic Plan was implemented in 2020, with the university actively supporting this initiative.
In October, the
New York Times
examined the scope of Michigan’s $250 million DEI initiative, referencing studies carried out by Flint professor Mark J. Perry which revealed that positions associated with DEI expanded by 70 percent.
A study carried out by the conservative organization, the
Heritage Foundation
The same think tank that produced Project 2025 also noted that the University of Michigan boasted the most extensive DEI initiative among all public universities in 2021.
A classified document acquired by the Times disclosed that the Michigan leadership encouraged employees to keep implementing diversity programs for recruitment and advancement purposes.
The university’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) strategic plan commenced in 2016, followed by the introduction of an updated approach called DEI 2.0 in 2023.
Due to these programs, the number of first-generation undergraduate students rose by 46 percent, and Pell Grant recipients went up by more than 32 percent.
On Thursday, President Ono issued a statement via a letter informing the community that the DEI 2.0 Strategic Plan will be terminated.
“These choices were not made hastily. We understand that these alterations are substantial and may pose difficulties for many individuals, particularly those whose lives and professions have flourished thanks to programs that are now shifting direction,” Ono stated in the message.
Ono noted that federal actions against DEI including Trump’s recent executive orders contributed to the decision to end the program.
On his inaugural day as president, Trump issued an executive order requesting
DEI initiatives are deemed ‘extreme’ and ‘inefficient.’
The directive called for the end of all DEI or DEIA (diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility) initiatives.
A day after, Trump issued another directive entitled “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity,” which stated that DEI programs were unlawful.
Ono additionally referenced Trump’s directive to
abolish the Department of Education
along with a letter from Craig Trainer, who served as the Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at the DOE.
The correspondence warned that federal funds would be withdrawn from public universities failing to abolish their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives.
To counteract the effects of reversing DEI efforts, Ono stated that the university would take additional measures to keep supporting the community.
Michigan announced plans to increase financial assistance and improve mental health services.
The institution is likewise broadening its Blavin Scholars Program and pouring resources into additional initiatives aimed at promoting academic achievement, such as round-the-clock AI tutors and individual AI assistants for everyone within the community.
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