The University of Missouri has announced it will dissolve its Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Division, amid a national debate over the need for DEI programs at higher education institutions.
President Mun Choi explained the decision during a news conference on Tuesday, citing a series of policy changes at the university, including the removal of diversity hiring statements and the end of race-conscious scholarships.
Choi stated that these rollbacks were necessary to prevent legislative bills aimed at reducing or eliminating DEI programs. Thirteen bills have been introduced in Missouri's legislature over the past two years, though none have passed. But given the shifting landscape of diversity initiatives on college campuses locally and nationwide, Choi argued that dissolving the IDE division was the "sustainable path forward."
The reorganization, effective Aug. 15, will see the IDE division's functions distributed across other departments, with no staff layoffs planned.
Choi emphasized that the university remains committed to inclusivity, stating, "We need to ensure that it doesn't exclude in the name of inclusion, and to ensure that we are serving all students, faculty, and staff, and that no one is left out because of their background."
The move comes as several states --- including Florida, Utah, Texas, Alabama and Iowa --- have enacted legislation targeting DEI programs in public universities. While Missouri has not yet passed a law mandating such bans, the university's decision appears to be a preemptive measure to mitigate political and budgetary risks.
The change also coincides with the departure of IDE Division Vice Chancellor Maurice Gipson, who will leave to become interim president at Philander Smith University in Little Rock, Arkansas, in mid-August.
Republican State Sen. Ben Brown, who has introduced several anti-DEI proposals, praised the move on Tuesday, arguing that universities should focus on education rather than "wasting resources pushing divisive DEI policies."
However, Charles Nilon, a Black professor at the College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources, criticized the decision. Nilon believes it undermines the value of DEI initiatives, potentially impacting students of color and others involved in the programs.
"His decision allows DEI initiatives in the state to be diminished, and I think it will not only impact students of color but all the students involved in [IDE] programs," he told the Columbia Missourian.
