DEI cuts | University of North Carolina rolls back diversity commitments

Mirroring recent shifts in the corporate world, the University of North Carolina has implemented cuts to its DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) programs, losing or reassigning around 200 staff.

The UNC system, comprising 17 institutions, has reported a redirection of over $16 million towards what it terms "success initiatives," including enhanced recruitment efforts and scholarship programs. The reallocation comes as a result of an overhaul of diversity efforts across all campuses

The policy shift, which echoes similar actions taken by major corporations scaling back their DEI departments, has led to the elimination or reassignment of nearly 200 staff positions dedicated to diversity initiatives. This restructuring varies in scale and approach across the different institutions, with larger campuses generally experiencing more significant changes.

UNC-Chapel Hill, the system's flagship institution, accounts for a third of the eliminated positions, while other large institutions like UNC Charlotte and North Carolina State University also saw notable reductions. Some universities opted for reassignments over eliminations, with NC State leading in this approach by moving 29 employees to new roles and departments.