North Carolina university committee swiftly passes policy change that could cut diversity staff

RALEIGH, N.C. — The future of diversity, equity and inclusion staff jobs in North Carolina’s public university system could be at stake after a five-person committee swiftly voted to repeal a key policy Wednesday. But Andrew Tripp, senior vice president for the UNC System Office’s legal affairs team, said the change would reaffirm “the university’s commitment to non-discrimination and institutional neutrality.” The policy that could replace the existing regulation does not include the outlined responsibilities of DEI officers and liaisons, suggesting they may be eliminated. UNC-Chapel Hill — the system’s flagship campus and whose website says has an office for diversity and inclusion with a 12-person staff — will review the policy change and work with the university system if implemented, spokesperson Kevin Best said in an emailed statement. Efforts to dissolve university diversity efforts are a “disservice” to students and create “controversy and volatility,” former UNC System President Tom Ross said in a joint statement with Democratic Gov.