University of Missouri ditches DEI, joins dash to excellence in education

The University of Missouri system (UM) is ending its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs, as states around the country dial back DEI in favor of results-based education.

And by being proactive in eliminating DEI, University President Mun Choi is certain the result will be a win for the students, the university, the faculty and the state.

“I believe that universities must continue to do the important work and stick to the principles of inclusivity,” Choi told the media about the change. “We need to ensure that it doesn’t exclude in the name of inclusion, and to ensure that we are serving all students, faculty and staff, and that no one is left out because of their background.” 

Choi also maintains his decision wasn’t in consultation with Missouri lawmakers, who have considered bills to dismantle divisive DEI programs in higher education the past two legislative sessions, although he did inform them of the plan. 

Still, it’s not a move all public institutions in Missouri are willing to make. 

Indeed, in March Missouri State University (MSU) hired DEI champion Dr. Richard “Biff” Williams. He’d previously boasted of helping “red state” Utah move forward with DEI policies as president at Utah Tech University, implying the hope he could do the same at MSU. 

Currently, the university does its DEI work through the Office of Inclusive Engagement, which in the fiscal year ending June 30 had a budget of more than $820,000. 

The office is currently run by Algerian Hart, assistant to the president for inclusive engagement. Hart was first hired as “interim chief diversity officer” in 2022. His budgeted salary was $156,617 for fiscal year 2024. 

Three other full-time faculty answer to Hart, and the office has five graduate assistant positions, according to an organizational chart on the website. 

MSU’s DEI office has four main emphases, the first of which includes DEI’s most hotly contested ambition, to attract “staff from diverse backgrounds.”  

Critics of DEI worry such commitments lead hiring committees to favor job candidates based on their race, sexual orientation, and gender identity – which amounts to discrimination for the sake of diversity and is likely unconstitutional. 

Earlier this year, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey even warned a St. Louis school district not to factor race into its hiring practices. 

“Classifying employees and applicants based on race and using this information to make hiring decisions would violate the law,” Bailey wrote. 

An email from The Lion to Williams about Missouri State’s commitment to DEI in light of the Mizzou announcement was not returned by the time of publication.