The University of Michigan, long considered a leader in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, is shutting down its Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, marking the end of a model program that influenced institutions nationwide.
In an email Thursday, university leaders cited the court-ordered enforcement of President Donald Trump’s executive orders on “restoring merit-based opportunity” and the “Dear Colleague” letter from the Department of Education, which threatened to cut federal funding for universities that maintained DEI programs.
As a result, both the DEI office—established in 2016 during the first Trump administration—and the Office for Health Equity and Inclusion will close. The university’s DEI 2.0 Strategic Plan, an updated version of its original DEI framework, will also be discontinued.
“These decisions have not been made lightly. We recognize the changes are significant and will be challenging for many of us, especially those whose lives and careers have been enriched by and dedicated to programs that are now pivoting,” the announcement stated.
Michigan is among several universities scaling back DEI efforts amid scrutiny from the Trump administration. While many institutions have removed DEI content from websites and eliminated programs, Michigan’s decision stands out due to its status as a national model.
The move is a major victory for the Trump administration, as it pushes to phase out DEI initiatives in higher education.
The decision contrasts sharply with the university’s DEI 1.0 launch a decade ago, when it committed nearly $250 million to fostering institutional change across its schools and colleges, according to a New York Times investigation.
Despite backlash over critical race theory and ongoing protests related to the war in Gaza, Michigan continued strengthening its DEI initiatives by expanding staff and programming. While the program faced criticism—particularly over Black student enrollment and campus protests—university leaders highlighted a 46% increase in first-generation students and a 30% rise in Pell Grant recipients as markers of its impact.
