Arizona’s public universities drop DEI hiring statements, securing a significant victory for free speech.

Arizona Public Universities Scrap Diversity Statement Requirement on Job​ Applications

In a significant​ victory for free speech advocates,⁢ Arizona’s public universities have decided to no longer ​request “diversity statements” on their job⁢ applications.

Earlier this year, the conservative Goldwater Institute found that a large portion of faculty ‌job postings at Arizona State University, the University of ​Arizona, and Northern Arizona University required ​applicants to provide⁣ diversity statements ​as a condition ⁤of hiring.

According to the‍ Institute’s report,‌ 28%​ of⁣ job postings at ⁣the University of Arizona,‌ 73%‌ at Northern Arizona University, and a staggering 81% at Arizona State University required a diversity statement.

The report also revealed⁤ that the university system ⁤sometimes⁤ required applicants to replace their traditional cover letter with a diversity statement, submit⁤ two full pages on‍ their activism or ⁢commitment to diversity, and even endorse progressive ⁤concepts‍ like “intersectional personal‌ identities.”

However, the public⁢ universities have now ‍scrapped their diversity, equity, and‍ inclusion​ (DEI) statement requirements on job postings.

The Arizona Board of Regents, ​which governs the⁢ public university system, clarified that while they have never required DEI statements, some departments at the universities may ⁣have included such requests in job applications. Nevertheless, the board stated that the universities have discontinued​ any requests for ⁤diversity statements.

The Goldwater Institute ⁤argued that requiring diversity statements was unconstitutional under ‌both the First Amendment and Arizona’s state ‌Constitution, which prohibits any religious or political test or ⁤qualification as⁤ a condition of admission into public educational institutions.

Goldwater Institute ⁤president‍ and CEO⁢ Victor Riches hailed the ⁣elimination ⁢of diversity statements as a “huge victory for academic freedom and the ​First Amendment.”

Goldwater Institute senior ​fellow Jonathan ⁢Butcher added, “DEI programs and ⁢’statements’ do not produce free expression ​nor more ⁤diversity of thought, equal opportunities,⁣ and a culture that‍ includes everyone in school activities because DEI’s guiding principles are rooted​ in the racially discriminatory worldview⁢ known as critical race theory.”

The removal of diversity statements from job⁤ applications is part⁢ of a broader debate surrounding DEI and critical ‌race ‍theory content in university classes and K-12 public schools.

Arizona⁣ now joins several other states, including Texas, Florida, and Missouri, in scrapping diversity statement requirements for public university jobs.