Over the past year, several states have passed laws requiring colleges to disband their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) offices. More recently, some colleges in Oklahoma are trying to avoid layoffs by renaming their DEI programs.
In December, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt signed an executive order prohibiting the state’s colleges and universities from using public funds to support DEI efforts. In a press release accompanying the order, Stitt said he signed the order to promote equal opportunity to strengthen the state’s workforce.
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“In Oklahoma, we will promote equal opportunity rather than promise equal outcomes,” Stitt said. “To grow our workforce, our economy and our education system, we must shift the focus from exclusivity and discrimination to opportunity and achievement. We keep politics out of education and focus on preparing students for the workforce.”
In response to the order, the University of Oklahoma has apparently attempted to retain the offices affected by the ruling by renaming its DEI services to retain its current staff and programs, Do No Harm notes.
Laura Morgan, senior program director at Do No Harm, explained that there have been obvious efforts by other institutions in the past to circumvent the intent of such regulations and laws.
“This tactic has been seen at other institutions: rename and redesign the office so that DEI is no longer mentioned, but the leadership and initiatives remain the same,” Morgan said. “Staff may be reassigned to other departments where the work on identity politics continues, but on the surface, the university appears to be following the law.”
Other schools in Oklahoma have reportedly used similar tactics. After a preliminary review, Oklahoma State University (OSU) President Kayse Shrum said none of the school’s programs would be eliminated by the order.
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“OSU faculty, staff and students are guided by the Cowboy Code, which animates us with a ‘passion to do what is right,’ and are united in the Cowboy Culture, which demands that ‘we treat each individual with dignity and respect, recognizing that differences can serve to strengthen and enrich the fabric of life,'” she said in a statement to the university community. “These fundamental commitments will not change.”
Campus reform has contacted Governor Stitt, the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University for comment. This article will be updated accordingly.
