The University of Michigan has closed its flagship diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) program and its corresponding office, bowing to pressure from the Trump administration's anti-DEI executive orders. The program, launched in 2016, had been a model for other institutions and saw significant gains, including a 46% increase in first-generation undergraduate students and a 32% rise in Pell Grant recipients.
In a statement, university leaders cited the success of initiatives like the Go Blue Guarantee and Wolverine Pathways but acknowledged that some felt excluded by DEI efforts. The closure follows the Supreme Court's 2023 ruling ending affirmative action and threats to cut federal funding for non-compliant schools.
Alongside the DEI office, the university is also terminating its Office for Health Equity and Inclusion and discontinuing the 'DEI 2.0 strategic plan.' Last year, the school stopped requiring diversity statements for faculty hiring. Moving forward, it will focus on student-facing programs, including financial aid and multicultural events.
The decision has sparked concern among faculty. Rebekah Modrak, chair of the faculty senate, warned that the federal government is using its power to enforce 'white supremacy' and that university leaders are 'determined to comply and to collaborate in our own destruction.'
