To the University Community,
Earlier this summer, on June 10 and June 17, I sent University-wide communications to keep you informed of efforts that we must take to ensure compliance with state and federal mandates regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Following those communications, my office worked closely with the Office of the University Counsel, the Provost, and our Vice Presidents to identify programs and activities impacted by the various executive orders, court rulings, and legislation to assure compliance with all applicable orders and laws. As such, the University has taken the following actions to comply with the referenced DEI-mandated directives:
- Restructured and modified existing scholarships by removing any reference to identified, prohibited criteria in compliance with DEI directives;
- Closed聽the June Anderson Center for Women and Nontraditional Students;
- Closed聽the Office of Intercultural and Diversity Affairs;
- Identified聽and removed聽website references to diversity, equity, and/or inclusion with the intention to remove or adjust as appropriate聽(this continues to be an ongoing process);
- Restructured聽the Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance to be the Office of Civil Rights Compliance to better reflect its new responsibilities, specifically eliminated the review functions of employment equity;聽and
- Closed聽the Center for Fairness, Justice, and Equity in the College of Education.
In addition to the above actions already taken, the university will finalize its decision and take then necessary actions to address the following to be effective on or before Sept. 1,
- Identifying and removing references on MTSU鈥檚聽websites聽that are counter to the referenced聽DEI聽directives (this review is ongoing);
- Restructuring the functions and activities of聽the Office of the Assistant to the President for聽Community聽Engagement and Inclusion to eliminate its inclusion functions;
- Reviewing聽University聽support for affinity groups or programs that focus on characteristics that fall within the聽referenced聽DEI聽mandates, with the聽intent to adjust and/or eliminate where warranted;聽and
- Reviewing聽policy references to diversity, equity, and/or inclusion or related activities, as defined by the referenced聽DEI聽mandates, with the聽intention to聽adjust and/or eliminate where warranted.
As I have previously noted, our work to comply with the state and federal laws and mandates have been comprehensive. If subsequent reviews identify additional impacted areas not noted above, we will address them using the same standards and make any necessary adjustments to the affected units, programs, and/or services.
Also, again, we know these changes have caused some concerns across our community. However, let me reiterate, MTSU has, and will continue, to serve all students and provide the resources needed to succeed. That commitment is unwavering.
I am confident that, working together, we can provide our Blue Raider family with the resources needed to thrive in our ever-changing world.
Sincerely,
Sidney A. McPhee
President