Lawmakers had no shortage of questions about universities moves to dissolve DEI offices ahead of anticipated anti-DEI legislation in the coming year.
The University of Kentucky was the first to disband its office associated with DEI. Units previously in the Office for Institutional Diversity are being transitioned to other offices that support the entire institution, including a new unit called the Office for Community Relations.
UK says it will neither mandate diversity training centrally or at the college or unit level, nor place required diversity statements in hiring and application processes. The university will act as an "impartial facilitator" of "broad perspectives."
Watch Capilouto's full comments. They begin at 5:43.
In Tuesday's hearing, Rep. Steve Rawlings summarized frequently-voiced concerns on the right regarding DEI — and UK's plans.
"Diversity, equity, inclusion. People understand the value of that, but it's the things that are taught within that bubble — some examples like victim ideology, microaggressions, intersectionality, which includes white privilege, toxic masculinity, and I could go on — there are so many things, so many accounts that are so disheartening to hear about," he said in the hearing's first question. "So my question is, since you're not eliminating any positions... will this just be a rebranding and re-shifting and moving to other programs and departments these kind of concepts?"
UK President Eli Capilouto responded that, in his discussions with employees working within DEI, he heard priorities that should apply to the entire institution. Some employees, he said, were not in agreement with descriptions like the one presented by Rawlings.
"And some were flabbergasted and offended to think that what they do was narrowly defined in accord with some of the things you said," the president answered, going on to add that, "Yes, we are refocusing and making clear that we're here to respond and serve everyone."
University presidents touted other measures — such as progress in graduation rates and meeting Kentucky's needs — and held to the commitment to make their schools welcoming to people of all backgrounds.
The committee meeting comes as lawmakers consider DEI-related legislation for the 2025 session.
