University of Missouri Dissolves DEI Office

• The university's diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) division will close Aug. 15 and be reorganized into other divisions.
• President Mun Choi said the university is "seeing the writing on the wall nationally" as states enact anti-DEI laws.
• House Bill 2619, which prohibits state departments from spending money on DEI initiatives, has not passed the state House or the state Senate yet.

The University of Missouri (MU) is dissolving its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) division.

MU President Mun Choi announced July 30 that the Division of Inclusion, Diversity and Equity will be dissolved and its programs reorganized into different university units Aug. 15. Choi told local news outlet KY3 that the move was in anticipation of anti-DEI legislation.

"We're seeing the writing on the wall nationally; DEI programs have been eliminated because of legislative mandates," Choi said in an interview with KY3. "I consider taxpayers in Missouri, Missourians, and, by proxy, the elected leaders to be our most important benefactors."

MU is anticipating House Bill 2619 will become law, like similar bills in Florida and Texas. They banned DEI offices and DEI training for university employees. HB 2619 prohibits state departments from spending money on DEI initiatives. The bill hasn't passed the state House or the state Senate.

Other universities, such as the University of Utah and Weber State University, also dissolved their DEI divisions ahead of anti-DEI law enactment. The University of North Carolina system reacted similarly to MU by dissolving divisions without pressure from an incoming law.

MU will reorganize its Division of Inclusion, Diversity and Equity. Some key movements include:

• Inclusive Engagement and Constituent Relations, which will now report to the Division of Student Affairs
• Access and Leadership Development and Inclusion and Strategic Initiatives, which will report to the provost's office
• Communications, which will report to the marketing and communications division

"In the Missouri Legislature, 13 pieces of DEI legislation were introduced during the past two years. Our proactive responses played a role in averting the passage of these bills," Choi said in a press release.

"This is a defining period for the University of Missouri, and we must make proactive changes for a sustainable path forward to achieve excellence for all. The path forward must ensure that all students, faculty, and staff are welcomed, valued, and provided opportunities to succeed."