Amid calls from some Republicans for the state government to stop funding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs at public institutions, some universities are taking their own steps to reframe such programs and related initiatives.
The University of Mississippi, colloquially referred to as Ole Miss, revealed plans Friday to shutter its Division of Diversity and Community Engagement after what officials said was a yearlong, internal review. Instead, Ole Miss will propose a new division to the Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) Board of Trustees called the Division of Access, Opportunity, and Community Engagement.
The new division will comprise three areas: Access & Community Engagement, Access & Opportunity, and Access & Compliance. The goal, per a campuswide email from Chancellor Glenn Boyce, is to bring in other university offices and functions to ensure both access and higher graduation rates.
“We are steadfast in our commitment to the transformative power of higher education, and now is the time to prioritize our efforts to broaden access to higher education,” Boyce wrote to students, faculty, and staff. “However, access alone is not enough. We must be committed to providing opportunities that cultivate academic attainment which leads to meaningful lives.”
A news release attached to Boyce’s email cited the statewide Ascent to 55% initiative, which looks to grow the overall number of Mississippians with a college degree or equivalent.
Shawnboda Mead, who served as vice chancellor for the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement and will take on the same role if the new department goes into place, said the move is a step in the right direction.
“The mission for our division will enable us to better address the unique needs of our community and ensure that every individual has the support they need to thrive,” Mead said in the release. “This will enhance the pathways for success, opportunity, and achievement.”
However, other faculty members at Ole Miss disagree with the decision and deem it an effort to back away from DEI. DEI is often described as an organizational framework intended to implement practices and policies that support people who come from varying backgrounds
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