UNC board to vote on removing diversity, equity and inclusion measures at public colleges

UNC's Board of Governors is expected to vote May 23 on whether it should adopt a policy requiring institutional neutrality and eliminating funding for diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

The Board of Governors, the regulating body for the state's 16 public universities, including UNC Asheville and Western Carolina University, passed the proposed policy in April. If adopted, the revision will overwrite two DEI policies adopted in September 2019, which focus on advancing diversity, fostering "an inclusive environment" and establishing employee roles to oversee and promote DEI efforts.

Students on UNCA's campus held a rally on the quad protesting the proposed bill about three weeks ago, Alex Severa, a senior at UNCA, previously told the Citizen Times.

This update to the UNC Policy Manual would require that the chancellor and student affairs director of each institution provide written certification of compliance with "the University's commitment to institutional neutrality and nondiscrimination," as well as a what actions they've taken to comply, according to the policy.

They must also report reductions in force and spending, "along with changes to job titles and position descriptions, undertaken as a result of implementing this policy and how those savings achieved from these actions can be redirected to initiatives related to student success and wellbeing," the policy says.

Regarding institutional neutrality, the policy states no employee positions or employing subdivisions within the university "shall be organized, be operated, speak on behalf of the University, or contract with third parties to provide training or consulting services" on "political controversies of the day," "view of social policy" or "matters of contemporary political debate."

UNCA Chancellor Kimberly van Noort has cited the importance of intuitional naturality for the "open exchange of ideas" before, when declining to provide a stance on the Israel-Gaza conflict during recent student protests on campus calling for transparency and divestment from Israel.

“The First Amendment protects the right of students and employees to express their opinions on matters of public debate,” van Noort said in a message to campus.

"Faculty members are entitled to academic freedom in the classroom when discussing issues related to their courses. Neither the University nor I, the chancellor, should interfere by taking an official stance. Institutional neutrality promotes the open exchange of ideas and avoids inhibiting scholarship, creativity, and expression. Compromising this position carries great risks."

The Board of Governors is accepting public comment on its website on the proposed policy through 5 p.m. on May 23.

The Citizen Times reached out to UNCA for comment on the policy.

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This story will be updated.

Ryley Ober is the Public Safety Reporter for Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email her at rober@gannett.com and follow her on Twitter @ryleyober

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: UNC board to vote on eliminating diversity, equity, inclusion measures