Florida International University disbands DEI office in light of new rules
MIAMI – Florida International University disbanded its Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in light of a new rule approved by the Florida Board of Governors.
The university, FIU, is a member of the State University System.
“In keeping with State of Florida legislation, the Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) has been eliminated,” the school’s webpage says. “FIU remains committed to cultivating an environment of accessibility and equal opportunity, where all are welcomed to learn, earn, and thrive.”
“Programs, compliance requirements, and equal opportunity initiatives protected by federal and state obligations pertaining to accessibility, civil rights compliance, and equal opportunity will transition to and continue within the Division of Human Resources, with operational support by the Department of Access, Compliance, and Equal Opportunity,” it says.
“DEI (Discrimination, Exclusion and Indoctrination) has no place in our public universities,” Gov. Ron DeSantis said of the university’s move this week.
“It’s beautiful,” said Christopher Rufo, a board member at the New College of Florida.
Florida’s higher education governing bodies this month formally moved to enforce new legislation signed by DeSantis last year removing DEI “bureaucracy” from public higher education.
In January, the State Board of Education created a rule to bar Florida College System members from spending taxpayer funds on DEI programs.
It defines “diversity, equity and inclusion,” or “DEI,” as “any program, campus activity, or policy that classifies individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, gender identity, or sexual orientation and promotes differential or preferential treatment of individuals on the basis of such classification.”
Not long after, the Florida Board of Governors made a similar regulation to apply to State University System member schools.
The moves fulfill vows by DeSantis one year ago to dismantle such “bureaucracy.”
“All DEI and CRT bureaucracies in the state of Florida – no funding, and that will wither on the vine,” he said in January 2023.
“We don’t want students to go through, at taxpayer expense, and graduate with a degree in zombie studies,” he said. “And so this is gonna make a difference.”
DeSantis ultimately signed legislation in May 2023 legally ordering the end of DEI funding in taxpayer-funded institutions.
The following lawmakers carried the bills cracking down on DEI: Sens. Erin Grall, R-Fort Pierce, and Keith Perry, R-Gainesville; and Reps. Alex Andrade, R-Pensacola, and Spencer Roach, R-North Fort Myers.
