The University of North Carolina System has issued new guidance to help universities navigate changes to diversity, equity, and inclusion policies. The guidance emphasizes “institutional neutrality,” which aims to keep universities from taking political stances or endorsing specific social issues. This comes after the UNC Board of Governors voted to repeal its DEI policy in May, which had been in place since 2019.
The guidance covers 13 topics including student success, avoiding content endorsement, and restructuring content for some centers. It also prohibits university administrators from endorsing specific viewpoints that violate laws and policies. The guidance warns that DEI offices on campuses could be drastically changed or eliminated.
Chancellors are required to submit reports to UNC System President Peter Hans by Sep. 1 detailing any changes made at their universities. Hans emphasized the university’s commitment to welcoming and serving students of all backgrounds and affirmed the policy’s support for academic freedom. The goal of “principled neutrality” is to allow faculty to teach and research freely, while also encouraging more discussion.
Overall, the guidance aims to address concerns raised during discussions about the new policy and ensure fair implementation of policies around nondiscrimination, equality of opportunity, and principled neutrality in the diverse UNC System. This new policy affirms the university’s long-held understanding of remaining non-political as an institution.
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