University of Florida closes its diversity office to comply with new state law

The University of Florida announced Friday it has shuttered its diversity office, becoming the latest and most prominent state school to comply with recently adopted state policy.

The policy is based on a new law that took effect last year, banning universities from spending on diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.

The university said it shut down its Office of the Chief Diversity Officer. It also eliminated diversity, equity and inclusion positions and administrative appointments and “halted DEI-focused contracts with outside vendors.”

According to a memo, the $5 million in funds being spent on diversity efforts will be reallocated for faculty recruitment.

“The University of Florida is — and will always be — unwavering in our commitment to universal human dignity,” the memo said. “As we educate students by thoughtfully engaging a wide range of ideas and views, we will continue to foster a community of trust and respect for every member of the Gator Nation. The University of Florida is an elite institution because of our incredible faculty who are committed to teaching, discovering, and serving.”

The university hired its first chief diversity officer in 2018. Then-president Kent Fuchs said the position was created because “UF, like many other Southern universities, has a legacy that includes not always welcoming people of diverse backgrounds.”

Also Friday, the University of South Florida revealed it had taken a similar step. A USF spokesperson said the school would not replace its chief diversity officer.

The university had paused a search for the position last year amid uncertainty around the new state laws that gave rise to the changes in policy. The spokesperson said the five staff members who worked in the office had been “transitioned to different roles at the university.”

In a statement, USF said it remained committed to “providing access and opportunities for individuals of all backgrounds, creating a welcoming environment where everyone can experience a sense of belonging and offering resources that support the success of our students, faculty and staff.”

Gainesville state Rep. Yvonne Hayes Hinson, a Democrat, said in a statement that she was “stunned but not surprised” by the decision by UF, her alma mater.

“The culture wars engaged in (by) the Republican-dominated Florida House of Representatives will continue until Floridians have had enough and develop the will and determination to flip the majority in the Florida House,” the statement said.

State Rep. Dianne Hart, a Tampa Democrat and chairperson of the legislative Black Caucus, called UF’s action “the most recent manifestation of the policies of an out-of-touch legislature, and a Governor’s failed Presidential bid.”

“When will we stop with these made up culture wars that are literally costing people their livelihoods?” Hart said in an emailed statement. “There are countless issues that we as a legislative body should be focused on like rising property insurance rates, children whose families can’t afford to feed them in the summers, and yet here we are focusing on issues that aren’t real.”

The top diversity officer at UF served as a member of the president’s cabinet and as a senior advisor. The office was involved in creating a three-year strategic plan for inclusive excellence and launching mentoring programs for underrepresented students.

It was also involved in celebrating heritage months. Last month, a news release from the state Board of Governors touted campus efforts to commemorate Black History Month, which ended Thursday. It linked to UF’s Office of Chief Diversity officer’s website, among other schools. The board oversees the state’s 12 public universities.

It was unclear Friday how many of those schools have taken action similar to what UF and USF have announced.

At the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, President Moez Limayem announced on Jan. 25 that the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and its centers would be phased out. That included the Intercultural Center, the Interfaith Center, the LGBTQ Center and the Women’s Center.

New College of Florida in Sarasota eliminated its diversity office in February 2023 in one of the board of trustees’ first actions after Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed six noted conservatives to that board.

Divya Kumar covers higher education for the Tampa Bay Times, working in partnership with Open Campus.

This story was originally published March 1, 2024 at 2:39 PM with the headline "University of Florida closes its diversity office to comply with new state law."