The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Board of Trustees recently voted to divert $2.3 million of funding from diversity programs to public safety and policing in the university’s budget for the upcoming year. This decision could potentially result in the loss of UNC-Chapel Hill’s diversity office, which currently has 12 staff members, including a chief diversity officer. The change is set to go into effect at the beginning of the 2024-2025 fiscal year, and it will be up to the university’s management team to determine the impact on staffing positions.
The decision to reallocate funding to public safety comes amidst ongoing pro-Palestinian protests on UNC’s campus, resulting in several arrests. The budget committee vice-chair emphasized the need to ensure the safety of all 30,000 students, not just a small group causing disruptions. The board’s concern for public safety was heightened following a fatal shooting on the UNC campus last August, prompting a reevaluation of the university’s spending priorities. This shift in funding is part of a larger trend in several states where legislation has been proposed to limit diversity and inclusion initiatives in public institutions.
UNC’s funding cuts to diversity programs precede any legislative action, demonstrating the university’s proactive approach to addressing its budget priorities. The decision to reduce diversity spending has been under consideration for nearly a year, especially following the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling against affirmative action in college admissions last year. The internal discussions regarding diversity programs were ongoing even before the fatal shooting incident, with the board seeking more productive uses for allocated funds, such as public safety initiatives.
The University of North Carolina now awaits approval from the UNC Board of Governors to proceed with changes in its diversity policy. The board’s university governance committee voted in favor of reversing and replacing the existing diversity, equity, and inclusion regulation from 2019, potentially eliminating certain DEI positions at 17 schools across the state. If the alteration is approved by the board of governors, it will come into effect immediately, signaling a significant shift in how diversity programs are managed within the UNC system. The funding reallocation and policy changes highlight the evolving landscape of diversity initiatives in public institutions.
The decision made by the UNC Board of Trustees to shift funding from diversity programs to public safety underscores the university’s commitment to prioritizing the safety and security of its student body. The move reflects a broader trend in several states where there has been growing interest in limiting diversity and inclusion programs at public institutions. UNC’s proactive approach to reevaluating its budget priorities and focusing on public safety initiatives demonstrates its responsiveness to current challenges and events on campus, including recent protests and a fatal shooting. The upcoming vote by the Board of Governors on changing the diversity policy will further shape the future of diversity initiatives within the UNC system.
