RALEIGH —The University of North Carolina System diversity, equity and inclusion position cuts and reassignments totaled more than $17.1 million.
At its regular meeting on Sept. 11, the University of North Carolina System Board of Governors (UNCBOG) unveiled a one-page summary detailing that 59 positions were cut and 132 reassigned across the system’s 16 schools. The summary lists a total redirected funds of $16,269,671 and $17,118,889 in total estimated cuts.
“The reports will be scrutinized far and wide, Andrew Tripp, the legal counsel for the UNC System, said during the board meeting. “Some will say that the campuses went too far, some will say the campuses didn’t go far enough. It’s ultimately the Board of Governors that will judge campuses’ compliance.”
UNC Chapel Hill had the most positions eliminated, with 20, and the school also had 27 realigned positions. The moves totaled $5,389,202, the largest for any school in the UNC System.
Behind Chapel Hill, UNC Charlotte had nine position cuts totaling $1,008,173. The next largest set of cuts was NC State, with eight positions removed at $4,909,053.
Fayetteville State had the fewest changes, with only one position realigned and no change in cost.
Of the millions in cuts, a large portion was redirected to student success initiatives, such as recruitment efforts and scholarships. Aside from UNC Pembroke and Appalachian State, all of the UNC schools have already spent their redirected money.
UNCBOG member Joel Ford, one of two members who opposed the policy changes earlier this year, expressed concern about recruitment and retention and asked UNC System president Peter Hans to make sure the system’s universities remained welcoming to all students.
“That remains our obligation under federal law, state law and our moral obligation as well,” Hans told Ford.
The cuts were made as a result of the UNCBOG repealing and replacing its previous diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies and requirements for all the system’s campuses during meetings held in April and May. The new policy focuses on equality and nondiscrimination over DEI concepts that critics on both the UNCBOG and UNC Board of Trustees found to be divisive.
All UNC System schools received legal guidance on the new policy in July.
