Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at UNC Schools
The Role of DEI in Education
For centuries, American universities were exclusively white and male from its students to its faculty and leadership. Today, African American, women and other minoritized groups are increasingly present amongst university graduates and cross university leadership. Despite representation being the most it's ever been in higher education, universities still continue to significantly fall short mirroring the same issue of national infrastructure as a whole. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) stem from civil rights movements in the 1960s and became the focus for many student protests and the multicultural movement in the 1970s. Reappearing during the racial justice movement in 2020 through racial reckoning and pledges, the purpose for DEI is to go beyond physical representation. DEI aims for diversity in educational curriculum, policy, and leadership; reflecting true U.S. demographics and promoting a just democracy.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) refers to a set of principles and practices aimed at creating fair, respectful, and inclusive environments. DEI efforts seek to acknowledge and address systemic inequities, promote equitable opportunities and representation, and create spaces where every individual can thrive and be reflected regardless of their age, race, religion, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and mental or physical ability.
Diversity refers to the representation of various identities and differences, through race, ethnicity, gender, socio-economic, or even cognitive. In an educational context, it’s about ensuring that classrooms, teaching staff, and administration is reflective of the multifaceted world we live in. Diversity in education is creating an environment where all voices and perspectives are heard and valued.
Equity is about ensuring that each student gets the resources they need to succeed and thrive. In education, this might mean providing additional support to students from minoritized backgrounds or ensuring that teaching methods support differences in learning.
Inclusion is the active effort to ensure that diverse individuals are fully engaged and integrated into all aspects of the educational experience. Ensuring that these students feel a sense of belonging and are actively involved in classroom discussions, extracurricular activities, and decision-making processes.
DEI on the National Level
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion has become a highly debated and politicized issue in the United States. Following the 2023 Supreme Court decision ending race-conscious college admissions, DEI programs are under increased scrutiny. Many Republican-led states are introducing legislation to restrict or eliminate these initiatives while Democratic-leaning states often defend them.
Colleges have established DEI offices and programs to address historical inequities, but critics argue they're costly and may conflict with academic freedom. The debate touches on funding priorities, workplace preparation, and varying definitions of DEI. This has resulted in a patchwork of policies nationwide, with some states restricting DEI efforts while others maintain or expand them.
Anti-DEI Legislation Tracker
The Chronicle of Higher Education is tracking 85 bills in 28 states and the U.S. Congress that aim to restrict DEI efforts in higher education. As of June 2024, 14 bills had become law, 14 had final legislative approval, and 53 had been tabled, failed, or vetoed.
The legislation typically targets DEI offices or staff, mandatory diversity training, diversity statements in hiring/promotion, and consideration of race, sex, ethnicity, or national origin in admissions/employment.
States with significant activity include Florida, Texas, Ohio, Missouri, and Wisconsin. Some bills have become law in Florida, Texas, North Dakota, and Tennessee. The tracker details each bill's status, sponsors, and provisions, reflecting a growing trend of legislative attempts to restrict DEI programs in U.S. higher education.
Current State of DEI in University of North Carolina System and Policy Impacts
On May 23rd, 2024, the UNC Board of Governors, repealed and replaced Section 300.8.5 of UNC Policy Manual:
300.8.5: “Diversity means the ways in which individuals vary, including, but not limited to, backgrounds, beliefs, viewpoints, abilities, cultures, and traditions that distinguish one individual from another.”
While the policy claims to reaffirm commitments to nondiscrimination, equality, institutional neutrality, academic freedom, and student success its implementation requires changes in practices across the University including but not limited to nixing DEI centers, staff, and University efforts that are deemed as political or social advocacy.
Affected institutions:
Appalachian State University
East Carolina University
Elizabeth City State University
Fayetteville State University
North Carolina A&T State University
North Carolina Central University
North Carolina State University
UNC Asheville
UNC-Chapel Hill
UNC Charlotte
UNC Greensboro
UNC Pembroke
UNC School of the Arts
UNC Wilmington
Western Carolina University
Winston-Salem State University
North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics
Bold universities are Historically Black Universities & Colleges, the italicized is a Tribal University & College.
DEI plays a pivotal role in shaping the learning environment, influencing student outcomes, and preparing students for a diverse world. Having DEI in education ensures that every student, regardless of their background, has the tools, resources, and inspiration to reach their full potential. Despite the unknowns and uncertainties on how the UNC’s Board of Governors' appeal of 300.8.5 DEI policy will impact institutions, faculty and students directly, CREED and other organizations, faculty and students across the state are committed to reassuring that our DEI efforts will continue despite any anti-DEI barriers and policies. Below are resources, student rights and a brief one-pager on the UNC’s policy guidance.
Below are resources, student rights, and a brief one-pager on the UNC's policy guidance.
Student Rights within the UNC system
Despite the new policy, students have rights as student organizations.
Official UNC Policy
As stated by the UNC, students and faculty have the right to express differing views about the public policy controversies on a public forum without the university taking action.
Students, staff, and facility have the right to assemble on campus as long as it does not interfere/disrupt with everyday activities.
Student Rights
Student organizations can post to story for upcoming event (Does not have to get approval from University)
Student organizations can speak freely about the topics within the organizations
Call upon dean/ chairs of departments to speak and attend events
Have their peers repost the events and speak about things via word of mouth.
Timeline
Position Eliminations and Budget Cuts (September 2024)
The UNC System eliminated 59 diversity, equity and inclusion positions across all campuses, with cuts totaling over $17.1 million. UNC-Chapel Hill had the largest cuts, eliminating 20 DEI positions and closing its Office of Diversity and Inclusion. UNC Charlotte dissolved its three DEI-related offices and cut nine positions while restructuring nine more.
Schools in the UNC System were required to comply with the new anti-DEI policy by September 1, 2024, following the Board of Governors' May 2024 vote to repeal DEI requirements. The implementation represents one of the most significant rollbacks of DEI programs at a major public university system, following similar moves in states like Florida and Texas. Vice Provost Leah Cox was tasked with overseeing efforts to develop recommendations for compliance plans as well as longer-term student success initiatives.
Curriculum Changes (February-May 2025)
Elimination of DEI Course Requirements: As of February 2025, the UNC system's general counsel ordered that universities can no longer have mandated "course credits related to diversity, equity and inclusion" in their general education requirements, citing compliance with federal executive orders from the Trump administration.
"Power and Society" Requirement: UNC has updated the title and requirements of the Power, Difference and Inequality general education requirement to "Power and Society" to align more closely with UNC System guidelines regarding diversity, equity and inclusion. Approximately 200 course options will be offered next fall to fulfill this revised Focus Capacity requirement.
Chancellor Lee Roberts and Provost Chris Clemens clarified that current classes and course content are not suspended, indicating that existing courses can continue while the system transitions to new requirements.
New UNC Board of Governors Subcommittees (July 2025)
In July 2025, The UNC Board of Governors directed each campus's board of trustees to form new subcommittees to monitor compliance with the system's 2024 "equality policy" that eliminated DEI offices. The subcommittees must verify that campuses properly realigned positions and redirected $16 million from former DEI programs. Each campus must select five trustees for these panels and submit compliance reports by September 1, 2025. The directive came after secretly recorded videos from conservative group Accuracy in Media showed administrators discussing continued DEI work, leading to several employees losing their jobs.
Syllabi Publication Policy (December 2025)
The UNC System will require all instructors across its 16 universities to publish their syllabi as public records beginning in the 2026-27 academic year. Under drafted Policy 400.1.6, syllabi will be treated as public records under North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 132 and must include academic calendars, grading policies, and course materials, but will exclude instructor names, contact information, and reading lists. Schools including UNC-Chapel Hill and UNC-Charlotte have already begun early implementation.
The policy aims to help students review syllabi before registration, but critics argue it violates academic freedom and creates unnecessary risks to students, faculty, and communities. They note that courses already undergo curriculum committee review at department and school levels. A petition to protect academic freedom is circulating in response.
In response, the North Carolina Conference of the American Association of University Professors created a petition calling to protect academic freedom, faculty, and communities. Sign the petition here.
UNC Chapel Hill Center Closures (December 2025)
Six area studies centers at UNC-Chapel Hill are closing: the Center for European Studies, African Studies Center, Carolina Asia Center, Center for Middle East and Islamic Studies, Institute for the Study of the Americas, and Center for Slavic, Eurasian and East European Studies. These are the first of 14 centers slated for closure across UNC due to NC legislative budget cuts and loss of Title VI federal funding.
The centers are interdisciplinary units that support faculty research and some degree programs in the College of Arts and Sciences. UNC currently has 59 research centers and institutes where faculty and students collaborate on health, education, technology, and social issues. The closures threaten jobs for outreach coordinators and staff while disrupting faculty research programs.
CREED’s Commitment
DEI, a pivotal force in shaping the learning environment, influencing student outcomes, and preparing students for a diverse world, is non-negotiable in education. It ensures that every student, regardless of their background, is provided with the tools, resources, and inspiration to reach their full potential. Despite the uncertainties surrounding the UNC's Board of Governors' appeal of the 300.8.5 DEI policy and its potential impact on institutions, faculty, and students, CREED is committed to continue our DEI efforts and support other organizations, faculty, and students across the state impacted by any anti-DEI barriers and policies.
Other media coverage and resources
If you have or know of additional resources related to DEI at UNC System schools, please email them to info@creed-nc.org