The University of Kentucky (UK) announced this week that it will close its Office for Institutional Diversity amid intensifying pressure from Republican lawmakers to curtail diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) abuses in higher education. The move comes as part of a broader restructuring plan aimed at addressing concerns that DEI programs are overly political and limit open discourse on campus.
UK President Eli Capilouto said the decision reflects a desire to maintain the university’s core values while addressing questions raised by policymakers and stakeholders.
The functions of the disbanded diversity office will be absorbed into other departments, including a new Office for Community Relations. Capilouto emphasized that the restructuring will not result in job losses and that the university remains committed to fostering a sense of belonging for all students — something unfair programs like DEI don’t allow.
The action at UK aligns with recent trends in several red states where DEI initiatives have come under fire. In Missouri, the University of Missouri dissolved its diversity division in response to similar political pressure. And in Iowa, a budget bill was passed to ban DEI offices that are not legally required.
Kentucky lawmakers who have championed anti-DEI legislation welcomed UK’s decision, describing it as a step toward restoring free speech and reducing division on campus.
