West Virginia University and Marshall University are reviewing their diversity policies following Gov. Patrick Morrisey’s executive order banning DEI for institutions receiving federal funding.
Morrisey issued several implementing regulations on Tuesday, including “Order to discontinue DEI.“The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion policies aim to promote equality in government and the workplace.
He demands that state authorities stop implementing any DEI initiatives. The Republican governor believes the guidelines could “unduly favor” race, gender, national origin and more. The guidelines have “been used and manipulated in the past,” he said.
“We will also ensure that state funds are not spent for DEI purposes,” Morrisey said on his second day as governor. “And that’s why our entire government is going to try to stamp this out.”
West Virginia’s colleges and universities receive a mix of state funding as well as federal money, grants and donations.
WVU has one Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusionwhich “exists because WVU continually strives to create the safe, diverse and welcoming community we all deserve.”
April Kaull, WVU communications director, said some of the eExisting accreditation and professional licensing standards include DEI requirements.
“We are currently reviewing the executive order with members of our campus community. Once the review is complete, we will have a better understanding,” she said. “The majority of the work in this area is performed by a targeted group of federal compliance staff with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Title IX. We do not use state funds to meet federal DEI requirements.”
DEI policies exist in WVU’s athletics department, Honors College and more, MetroNews reported.
Del. John Williams, D-Monongalia, a WVU alumnus, said he has seen firsthand how the university’s DEI policies promote a more welcoming campus.
“As a white student, I never felt threatened or attacked because there was an office that made sure everyone got a fair chance,” he said. “Making DEI a priority from the start shows that, like my colleague Minority Leader, this is a ‘boogeyman’ problem [Sean] Hornbuckle has already said.”
“I’m sure DEI programs aren’t perfect, but let’s work on them and not just abolish them out of hand,” William added.
Del. Anitra Hamilton, D-Monongalia, said she worked with Maesha Poore, vice president of WVU’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
“Their work to support WVU students has been phenomenal. They have navigated turbulent circumstances and provided support to our students that cannot go unnoticed,” said Hamilton, who holds multiple degrees from WVU. “It’s such a disgrace that West Virginia’s new governor doesn’t value regulations that level the playing field… This is such an administrative travesty.”
Sen. Mike Oliverio, R-Monongalia, said lawmakers representing the Morgantown area and surrounding areas met Wednesday with WVU President E. Gordon Gee and his gubernatorial relations team.
“We discussed many topics, including DEI issues,” he said. “Historically, WVU has had a very diminutive budget when it comes to DEI matters and will employ these dollars to place a greater focus on services for students with disabilities, minority students and students with special needs in the future. “
Morrisey said he wanted to give businesses time to comply with his order.
Marshall University is also checking its DEI guidelineswhich aimed to promote the university’s credo of “embracing and promoting diversity on campus and in the HD community.”
“Marshall’s government relations and legal departments are reviewing the orders to ensure compliance,” said Leah Payne, Marshall University communications director.
Hornbuckle, D-Cabell, is a Marshall graduate. He questioned what’s wrong with having a diverse workforce across the state, noting that 97% of Fortune 500 companies have a component of DEI “because it makes money and increases the bottom line.”
“I think it would be a good thing if we promoted equal opportunities for those who live in rural or other disadvantaged communities like their friends across the city,” he said. “Inclusion, in its truest sense, means ensuring that every West Virginian has a seat at the table, much like our Legislature was designed to allow everyone from every city, town and community to contribute. This is DEI, not this fictional bogeyman scaring people to win votes and sow hate among our neighbors.”
The threat to state funding is that almost every university in the state is struggling with budget problems caused by it rising government insurance costs and degenerating student enrollment. WVU Board of Governors in 2023 28 academic majors eliminatedand the university around 300 jobs cutpartly because of its budget constraints.
Smaller state universities contacted for this story did not comment.
Jessica Tice, senior communications director at the Higher Education Policy Commission, said, “We are currently working with all public colleges and universities in the state to compile and review the information outlined in the Executive Orders and comply with Governor Morrisey’s orders.”
According to the U.S. Census, 92% of West Virginia’s population is white and about 4% of residents are black.
“West Virginia is 3.6% African American and their focus is on DEI as this state ranks last in the nation in education and is highest in obesity, heart disease and opioid use, to name a few,” Hamilton said. “Once again, we are wasting our time and taxpayer dollars on programs that, in practice, ride a discriminatory wave and do absolutely nothing to move our state forward.”
Morrisey’s executive order on DEI states that the U.S. and state constitutions already guarantee protections and equal protection to residents and that the DEI policies contradict these constitutional requirements.
The order states that companies receiving government funding may not be permitted to mandate DEI training or education.
The national free speech organization FIRE said Morrisey’s DEI ban was too broad and could face a legal challenge. The organization argued that it could have a “chilling effect on classroom discussions” in higher education.
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