St. George • With just under four months left for the state Legislature to pass an anti-DEI bill and Gov. Spencer Cox to sign it into law in January, Utah Tech officials are taking steps to ensure the deadline is met. is being taught.
HB 261 would require Utah's public universities to remove the words “diversity, equity, and inclusion” from their programs and open race- and gender-based initiatives and resources to everyone on campus. I am. State higher education officials have until July 1 to comply with the new rules.
In a statement released this week, university officials announced their intention to meet the deadline.
“Utah Tech is committed to fully understanding HB 261 and the steps necessary to implement it by July 1, 2024, as outlined in the bill,” the statement reads. . “We are convening a committee of key stakeholders on campus to review the details of this law and ensure Utah Tech's full compliance with the law. As part of our mission, Utah Tech remains committed to supporting all students as they strive to achieve their educational goals.”
Still, university administrators and students say there is considerable anxiety and uncertainty about what the bill means, how it will affect universities, and what universities must do to avoid violating the law. .
What about company name change and personnel reduction?
For example, what will become of Utah Tech's senior diversity and inclusion officer, a position currently held by Tasha Toy, the university's assistant vice president? Another possible issue is the University's Center for Inclusion and Belonging. The center is open to all students, but focuses on providing scholarships and services to students from diverse backgrounds and underrepresented communities.
Is a new name for the center in the plans? Will the university have to lay off some or all DEI-related positions? University officials are not sure, but large-scale changes are likely. I think it's low.
“While no job cuts are anticipated at this time, job descriptions and titles may change,” said Stacey Schmidt, assistant director of public affairs at UTU.
Whatever changes are needed, university officials believe the committee, which is made up of five or six people with diverse academic backgrounds, has enough time to better understand and comply with the law. I feel relieved that there is.
Del Beatty, UTU's vice president for student affairs, said Utah Tech is already in a good position to meet the deadline, adding that the Center for Inclusion and Belonging (CIB), formerly known as the Center for Multicultural Diversity, is now in a good position to meet the deadline. pointed out. If another name change is needed, Beatty added, that's for the committee to decide.
The same goes for taxpayer-funded scholarships and tuition waivers, especially those based on a student's race, ethnicity, or gender identity. According to HB 261, these scholarships, like any other resource, must be available to everyone.
What hasn't changed is the university's commitment to meeting the needs of all students, Beatty added. He said CIB's program is already open to all students.
“As a student affairs professional, my focus has always been on helping students engage and connect with their institutions…” he said. “What I understand from the intent of the bill is that we want to make sure that we serve all students.”
Culture war clash?
In his support of HB 261, Governor Cox characterized DEI programs at Utah colleges and universities as promoting division rather than inclusion. He and Republican state lawmakers argue that the program is filled with identity politics and philosophies aimed at politicizing the classroom and indoctrinating students. They argue that anti-DEI laws ensure that all students are treated equally.
Others are less sanguine about the anti-DEI bill, noting it is similar to numerous culture war-style bills passed by Republicans in red states across the country.
“At one point, Utah State was looking to promote inclusion and diversity, and now I feel like we’ve taken a huge step backwards,” said the student, who received the Multicultural Student Association (MISA) scholarship. said Evelyn Fuentes, a senior academic major.
“The Center for Inclusion and Belonging introduced me to the MISA Scholarship so I could continue my studies without taking on debt,” said Fuentes, who was the first in her family to attend college. Told. “It was life-changing, especially for me as a first-generation student and Hispanic.”
Amira Hassan, whose mother is white and whose father is from Pakistan, grew up in Germany before moving to Utah. She is a junior finance major and fell in love with Utah Tech after touring the campus several years ago. However, when she entered college, she often felt like a “fish out of water.” She is the one who gave her a sense of belonging, put her on the path to success, and convinced her to stay instead of transferring to another large university where she was admitted. , CIB, her empathetic staff, and program.
Hassan currently serves as president of the Multicultural Student Association. An optimist by nature, she worries about the future, worrying that the Utah Legislature is targeting students of diverse backgrounds and ethnicities through anti-DEI measures.
Like Utah Tech administrators, she has struggled to comply with the new law. For example, they recently changed the name of an event scheduled for Black History Month from “Black Excellence Gala” to “Night of Excellence.”
“It's sad,” she said, “because removing the word 'black' from the event name suggests that being black is bad or that 'black' is a stigmatized word.” Because it could be implied that there is, and that shouldn't be the case.'' It takes away the resources we used to have and the ability to be open and comfortable about different cultural identities. I'm worried that I won't have the space to feel it. ”
