University of Kentucky adopts viewpoint neutrality stance to comply with new state law

The University of Kentucky adopted an institutional neutrality policy last week to comply with House Bill 4, a new state law restricting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives at public universities.

The school’s Board of Trustees voted on the policy at its Sept. 12 meeting. The move comes after criticism from a conservative watchdog group arguing the university’s first attempt at a neutrality statement fell short of the law.

The state passed House Bill 4 in March after Republican lawmakers overrode Gov. Andy Beshear’s veto. It bans mandatory diversity statements and DEI offices.

It also requires public universities to adopt a policy on viewpoint neutrality “that prohibits discrimination on the basis of an individual’s political or social viewpoint and promotes intellectual diversity within the institution.”

Initially, instead of drafting a new policy, the university relied on statements made earlier by President Eli Capilouto. That drew criticism from the Goldwater Institute, which played a role in pushing for the bill’s passage.

“Not only is the president’s Institutional Neutrality Statement deficient – containing nothing about prohibiting viewpoint discrimination and promoting intellectual diversity – it was not adopted by the board as required by law,” the institute said in a release. 

Stacy Skankey, litigation director for the Goldwater Institute’s American Freedom Network, told the College Fix that “viewpoint neutrality and intellectual diversity aren’t optional at Kentucky schools – they’re the law, and ignoring them undermines academic integrity.” 

She said the university’s previous draft “focuses on avoiding official positions on current events but fails to address the prohibition of viewpoint discrimination or the promotion of intellectual diversity.” 

The statement the trustees approved does not mention promoting intellectual diversity. 

“We will be impartial facilitators as an institution of broad perspectives,” it says, in part. “When we take a position, as an institution, on a partisan or political issue, we threaten the ability of everyone in our community to feel a sense of belonging and an opportunity to join the debate.” 

Jay Blanton, a university spokesperson, said the school is committed to following the law. 

“However, to ensure that there is no confusion or ongoing questions or concerns, we have been planning for some time to bring a recommendation to the Board at our September meeting for them to endorse a policy of institutional neutrality,” he said in a statement. 

The Goldwater Institute will continue to press the issue, Skankey said. 

“We’re not looking for a fight – we just want the law followed, and we’ll keep applying pressure until that happens,” she said.