The University of Utah will no longer use diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) statements in hiring, a spokesperson confirmed to Fox News Digital.
University of Utah President Taylor Randall sent a letter to the Presidents’ Leadership Council (deans, department heads and other administrators) last Friday, a university spokesperson told Fox News Digital on Monday.
The letter states that the action arises from “statements” and “directives” from elected leaders and the Utah Board of Higher Education to eliminate diversity questions or statements used in hiring at Utah institutions of higher education.
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The University of Utah will no longer use diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) statements in hiring, a spokesperson confirmed to Fox News Digital. (Photo by Boyd Ivey/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
According to the letter, the directive implies that “all university hiring units must discontinue the use of any type of diversity statements or similar practices as part of their unit-level candidate or employee hiring processes.”
“As the University of Utah strives to achieve excellence in education, research, patient care and community service, we remain steadfast in our belief and actions that we must have a dedicated team of people from all walks of life. of life to help us achieve that goal,” the letter says.
He continued, “In doing so, we affirm our commitment to nondiscriminatory hiring practices and the well-being of our patients and university community.”
The move comes as DEI is under fire on college campuses in Utah and across the country.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, a Republican, last month criticized Utah colleges and universities for employing DEI statements in hiring practices, saying they foster division rather than inclusion.
According to local public radio KUER, Cox first addressed DEI during a virtual meeting in December, where he said university diversity programs were doing “more to divide us than unite us.”
Later that month, Cox addressed the issue again at a press conference and promised to sign legislation to overturn such practices, adding that they are “verging on evil.”
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Currently, nearly 35,000 undergraduate and graduate students are enrolled at the University of Utah. (Google Maps)
“I can assure you that after this legislative session, this will not happen here in the state of Utah,” according to KUER. “These diversity statements that you have to sign to get hired, I think they’re horrible. I think it borders on bad, where we’re forcing people into a political framework before they can even apply for a job in the state.”
The Utah Board of Higher Education reportedly said they are moving away from DEI statements as part of their hiring processes in response to Cox.
“Some of Utah’s colleges and universities had incorporated various forms of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) statements or questions into their hiring procedures in the past. However, these institutions have been eliminating this practice for some time.” said the Board. .
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On the other side of the country, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill banning DEI initiatives at public universities.
The bill is DeSantis’ decision to eliminate what he calls “woke” influences in education.
