MTSU announces potential changes, cuts to comply with new anti-DEI law, Trump order
Middle Tennessee State University announced it is making changes to comply with Tennessee's new "Dismantling DEI Departments Act," along with an executive order by President Donald Trump.
The measures bar public institutions of higher education from maintaining, authorizing or supporting programs that promote diversity, equity and inclusion, also known as DEI.
"While MTSU has not functioned in a way that discriminates against students, faculty, staff or our overall community, the parameters of the president's executive orders and Tennessee law requires us to reevaluate our operations to ensure that we remain in compliance around how we support students, nonacademic programs and some academic support programs," MTSU President Sidney McPhee said in an email sent to the university community on June 10.
The public university, located about 35 miles south of Nashville in Murfreesboro, is home to around 20,000 students. To comply with the order and the new state law, McPhee said, the university must do the following:
Restructure or eliminate programs that explicitly focus on DEI
Remove DEI references from the university website and publications
Adjust scholarship programs with criteria structured around DEI
Eliminate sponsorships and support of any initiatives, programs and services related to DEI, both internally and externally
McPhee said the university is conducting a "comprehensive review" of its programs and services, which may lead to further cuts, including laying off some employees. He said he and his team are working to meet the new requirements while making sure students feel supported and minimizing disruptions in the university's operations.
It was not immediately clear if any changes have been enacted, or what impact those changes may have on programs, scholarships, services, student and faculty.
University spokesperson Andrew Oppman told The Tennessean that he did not have any specifics as of June 11. He said McPhee wanted the email to alert the university community that a "thorough review" was underway and to give a sense of the scope of the possible changes. Oppman said once final decisions are made, they will be shared with the public.
"We understand that these actions may raise questions and concerns," McPhee wrote. "Our administration is actively working to ensure that our university employees and students continue to feel supported as we address these challenges. We are aware that these laws will impact our community in a way that will cause angst and frustration, and we want to assure you that our commitment to serving all students has not changed."
Rachel Wegner covers education and children's issues for The Tennessean. Got a story you think she should hear? Reach her via email at RAwegner@tennessean.com. You can also find her on Twitter or Bluesky under the handle RachelAnnWegner.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: MTSU: Change ahead to comply with anti-DEI law, Trump order
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