Florida’s 12 public universities are currently eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) positions. 

The state Board of Governors signed regulation 9.016 in January in accordance with Senate Bill 266, banning the use of state funds for DEI programs and prohibiting tax money from being used to fund “political or social activism.” As of March 1, the University of Florida (UF) has eliminated 13 full-time positions related to DEI, and the Miami-based Florida International University (FIU) also eliminated its DEI program. While the DEI-prohibited expenditures statute does not apply to student-led organizations or speech, young people say the eliminations will negatively impact the student body.

“When I saw the news about the DEI positions being eliminated, I was really upset, and I was pretty outraged about it,” said Lily Dixon, secretary for FIU’s Young Democratic Socialists of America. “These DEI positions for me do mean a lot as a queer, nonbinary student … [Eliminating them] makes me feel less seen as a student. And it makes me feel like I don’t have as many faculty and staff members that I can go to.” 

The state memo defines “political or social activism” as “any activity organized with a purpose of effecting or preventing change to a government policy, action, or function, or any activity intended to achieve a desired result related to social issues, where the university endorses or promotes a position in communications, advertisements, programs, or campus activities.” UF previously spent $5 million in funds allocated for DEI initiatives, including salaries and expenditures. The amount will now be allocated to a faculty recruitment fund, according to a university spokesperson.

“The University of Florida is legally obligated to follow the lawful directives of the Florida Board of Governors,” wrote UF Director of Public Affairs Cynthia Roldán Hernández in a statement to Prism. “As soon as the state legislature passed the underlying law last year, the University of Florida began to take steps to comply—working to uphold our First Amendment obligation to prohibit compelled statements/pledges, explaining legislation to deans and HR leaders, and reviewing our scholarships and accreditation standards. After the Board of Governors issued regulation earlier this year, UF’s General Counsel led an evaluation to ensure compliance and implemented these changes.”

In addition eliminating the 13 full-time positions, the university terminated administrative appointments for 15 faculty members, ending the roles and responsibilities these staffers took on in addition to their regular work. UF employees whose positions were eliminated will receive the college’s standard 12 weeks of severance pay. Roldán Hernández said between now and April 19, laid-off faculty members can apply for expedited consideration for open positions currently posted with the university. According to the spokesperson, UF human resources will fast-track interviews and respond to all applications within a 12-week window.

In response to these eliminations and terminations, student groups at UF protested outside of the Board of Trustees meeting March 8, pushing back in particular against the firing of the university’s chief diversity officer, Marsha McGriff. Students and members of the UF chapter of the United Faculty of Florida (UFF) also wrote an open letter decrying the eliminations. 

“The thought that I might not be able to learn about certain issues, as well as not having certain faculty members to go to is what really scares me,” said Dixon. “I would like in the near future to hopefully see these positions restored on campus. I think they mean a lot to our students, and they mean a lot to a lot of people, not just students, but the faculty. And I think they’re really important overall in creating an inclusive environment on campuses.”