Colleges Risk Talent Loss With Pushback on Diversity Initiatives

Public colleges and universities are eliminating hundreds of jobs tied to boosting diversity, equity, and inclusion in response to state efforts to scale back DEI, a move that diversity supporters say is overkill that ultimately will harm the institutions.

Utah is the latest state to have a new law go into effect barring DEI offices and the use of specific characteristics like race in admissions and employment decisions at its 16 public universities and technical colleges.

The Utah System of Higher Education’s guidance on navigating the law, which took effect July 1, doesn’t recommend closing cultural centers that support historically ...