The Campus DEI Retreat
The University of Michigan has shut down its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) office as colleges across the country scramble to avoid scrutiny from former President Donald Trump’s administration.
University of Wisconsin’s DEI Spending Under Scrutiny
The University of Wisconsin system and several state agencies failed to specifically track spending on DEI initiatives, according to a recent report by Wisconsin’s Legislative Audit Bureau (WLAB). The audits covered fiscal years 2023-2024. Due to the lack of detailed tracking, WLAB was forced to estimate the institutions’ expenditures on these programs.
WLAB estimates that the University of Wisconsin system spent $12.5 million on salaries for employees with DEI-related job titles and $40.2 million on offices tasked with diversity, equity, and inclusion duties. However, the bureau clarified that not all of these funds were exclusively dedicated to DEI efforts.
DEI Rollback Amid Political Pressure
The University of Wisconsin had already planned to scale back its DEI initiatives following a 2023 deal with Republican legislators to limit DEI-related positions. At the time of the agreement, the university had 123 full-time DEI positions. By May 2024, that number had dropped to 110, and it now stands at 60.
Controversial Mandatory Seminar
The University of Wisconsin Law School reportedly hosted a mandatory seminar where students were asked to share racial slurs and instructed on the concept of "colorblindness." The seminar has sparked criticism and raised questions about the effectiveness and appropriateness of certain DEI programs.
University Dismisses Chief Diversity Officer
In January, the university removed its chief diversity officer, LaVar Charleston, citing a "significant lapse in judgment and fiscal responsibility," as reported by local affiliate Fox 6. While Charleston was relieved of his DEI duties, he remains a faculty member at the university.
State Agencies’ DEI Spending
WLAB’s audits of state agencies revealed that 12 agencies spent approximately $2.2 million on salaries for 47 DEI-related positions. Additionally, 23 agencies reportedly spent around $705,300 on salary costs for employees attending mandatory DEI training required by Executive Order 59 or the Department of Administration (DOA) in 2023.
Challenges in Tracking DEI Costs
WLAB noted that both the University of Wisconsin and state agencies had overlapping costs, making it difficult to accurately calculate the exact amount spent on DEI programs. Furthermore, agencies failed to consistently report corrective actions related to noncompliance issues to the DOA. The DOA, in turn, did not consistently enforce action on such matters. Most agencies also did not submit all required annual progress reports on DEI from 2021 to 2023.
Political Backdrop
The audits were ordered by state Republicans, who launched a comprehensive review of DEI-related spending in May 2024. This followed comments by Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, who vowed in late 2023 to end DEI initiatives. The move aligns with efforts by the Trump administration to eliminate DEI programs from various aspects of American life, including higher education.
National Implications
A nationwide study found that DEI course mandates cost taxpayers nearly $2 billion. The debate over DEI programs continues to intensify, with critics arguing that they are costly and divisive, while supporters maintain they are essential for fostering inclusivity and addressing systemic inequalities.
University’s Halloween Cultural Awareness Initiative
The University of Wisconsin-Madison has a webpage dedicated to "Halloween cultural awareness," advising students to avoid costumes that are "racist, crude, or culturally insensitive." This initiative reflects broader efforts by institutions to promote cultural sensitivity amid ongoing debates about DEI.
Conclusion
The scrutiny of DEI spending and programs at the University of Wisconsin and other institutions highlights the growing political and cultural divide over the role of diversity, equity, and inclusion in American society. As debates continue, the future of DEI initiatives remains uncertain.
Author Bio
Rachel Wolf is a breaking news writer for Fox News Digital and FOX Business.
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