Utah universities take action to safeguard DEI despite imminent ban deadline

Universities in Utah are up against a July 1 deadline to comply with the state’s new diversity, equity, and inclusion ban at colleges, but the legislation is unlikely to eliminate the ideology on campus.

Gov. Spencer Cox (R-UT) signed legislation earlier this year paring back some DEI programs at the state’s universities and government offices, but the measure largely bans the words “diversity, equity, and inclusion” without necessarily taking on the ideology itself.

While the law prohibits the use of trainings or statements based on the racialized or gender-related tenets of DEI in employment and promotion decisions, as well as blocks programs asserting that “meritocracy is inherently racist or sexist,” it also provided protections for DEI staff and practices.

Del Beatty, Utah Tech University vice president of student affairs, told Fox 13 Salt Lake City that his school is in the process of compliance but that no mass layoffs for DEI employees or large-scale restrictions would take place, as have happened in Florida and are currently taking place in Texas.

“Absolutely we’re going to comply and I think everybody’s intent is to not harm the students, not lay people off of their jobs, but to more expand the vision and expand the services, not constrict, making all services available to more students,” Beatty told the outlet.

But compliance with the DEI ban in Utah looks very different from compliance in other states with similar measures because the bill in Utah required only that the words “diversity, equity, and inclusion” could not appear in the name of a campus office, but the duties could be moved to a “student success and support” office.

Schools are also required to open previously race- or sex-based programs to all students, so a black cultural center would need to service white people, and a women’s center would need to help men.

“I think originally there was some angst and some nervousness by employees who work in our inclusion and belonging areas about how it will impact them and how things will be different, but the process that we are using, I think, is going to be a really good one,” Beatty said. He explained that his school has a seven- to eight-person working committee to ensure everything at the schools is in compliance with the law.

Utah Valley University became the first school in the state to change the name of its DEI center to the Office of Institutional Engagement and Effectiveness. University President Astrid Tuminez then posted online signaling that the name change would not alter the mission of the office, saying, “UVU succeeds when all members of our community are seen, valued, welcomed, respected, included, represented and heard.”

Tuminez noted that Dr. Rasha Qudisat, whose title simply changed from chief inclusion and diversity officer to chief engagement and effectiveness officer in March, “will be indispensable in supporting collaboration and coordination across campus to deepen our culture of belonging and success. We will not only live our values, but also measure the impact of our words and actions.”

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In the process of becoming law, Utah’s legislation was softened from the original proposal, which would have implemented a full ban on all things DEI, including limiting curriculum and allowing the firing of DEI staff, according to the Salt Lake Tribune. Cox called the legislation a “balanced solution.”

“I’m grateful to the Legislature for not following the lead of other states that simply eliminated D.E.I. funding with no alternative path for students who may be struggling,” the Republican governor said in a statement. “Instead, this funding will be repurposed to help all Utah students succeed regardless of their background.”

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