BOV votes to dissolve university’s DEI office

Citing the Trump administration’s efforts to end “illegal discrimination,” UVA’s Board of Visitors unanimously approved a resolution to dissolve the Division of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Community Partnerships.

Within weeks, the governing boards of Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia Tech and the Virginia Community College System passed similar resolutions.

The BOV resolution references a Jan. 21 executive order from U.S. President Donald Trump, as well as a “Dear Colleague” letter sent to educational institutions in February by Craig Trainor, the acting assistant secretary for civil rights in the U.S. Department of Education. In the letter, Trainor calls on educational institutions to end any practice that treats students differently from one another on the basis of race, calling such practices unlawful. It threatens a loss of federal funding for educational institutions that do not comply.

(In late April, federal judges blocked enforcement of the measures while litigation over them moves forward.) 

The March 7 BOV resolution instructs the university to “transfer permissible programs to a new organizational home” and stipulates that “legally permissible” research and activities proceed as normal. It requires that President James E. Ryan (Law class of ’92) update the board on the university’s compliance within 30 days.

In a statement issued after the BOV meeting, the university said it would comply with the demands of the resolution.

Colleges in more than 35 states have curbed their diversity, equity and inclusion practices in the past couple of years, according to The Chronicle of Higher Education, which has tracked such changes since 2023.

“The administration will review the functions of the office, and all personnel and programs that are permissible under state and federal law will be transferred within the University, within 30 days,” the statement said.

In a statement to the UVA community on March 11, Ryan wrote that the university had already been reviewing its policies and practices in recent weeks to ensure they comply with federal and state anti-discrimination laws, and that it would continue to do so.

Ryan also emphasized the importance of fostering an inclusive environment. “Making all community members feel welcome and ensuring all have an opportunity to succeed is work that occurs all across Grounds, day in and day out—from Admissions to Athletics to Alumni Hall, and from our residence halls to our classrooms, labs, and clinics,” he wrote. “That vital work will continue.”

Colleges in more than 35 states have curbed their diversity, equity and inclusion practices in the past couple of years, according to The Chronicle of Higher Education, which has tracked such changes since 2023. The changes range from altering or removing diversity-related verbiage and websites to closing and/or renaming inclusion offices, sometimes driven by state legislation. Virginia legislators have not passed any such laws.

The Board of Visitors is the governing body of UVA. The 17 voting members of the BOV are appointed to staggered four-year terms by the governor and approved by the General Assembly. Each member can be appointed to up to two terms and at least 12 of the members must be alumni of the university.

On March 26, Gov. Glenn Youngkin took the unusual step of firing Bert Ellis (Col class of ’75, Darden class of ’79), whom he appointed in 2022, from the board. Later that evening, Youngkin said he intended to appoint former Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli (Engr class of ’91) to the board.

With Ellis’ removal, the board now has 12 appointments from Youngkin, a Republican, and four appointments from Democratic governors. It also has student and faculty members who do not vote.