Amid increasing pressure from some lawmakers to halt state funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, several universities are independently reexamining and restructuring these initiatives.

The University of Mississippi is one of the universities.

Recently, Ole Miss officials announced plans to close its Division of Diversity and Community Engagement. According to university officials, this decision follows a yearlong internal review.

In its place, Ole Miss intends to propose a new division to the Institutions of Higher Learning Board of Trustees, named the Division of Access, Opportunity, and Community Engagement. This move signals a strategic shift in how the university approaches diversity and inclusion efforts amid ongoing debates.

Ole Miss Chancellor Glenn Boyce recently posted an article about this upcoming change. Here is what he posted:

Over the past year, our university has conducted an organizational and program review of the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement to evaluate and align its structure, programs, and resources for how we support all students, faculty, and staff in their pursuit of success.

I appreciate the members of our campus community who provided invaluable feedback and guidance. From this review, the university will undergo an organizational change, including closing the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement and creating the Division of Access, Opportunity, and Community Engagement, pending IHL approval.

The new proposed division will comprise three areas: Access & Community Engagement, Access and Opportunity, and Access and Compliance. It will bring together several university offices and functions from other areas of campus including Equal Opportunity and Regulatory Compliance, Student Disability Services, and Digital Accessibility. Additionally, it will encompass many programs and initiatives including the Bonner Leaders Program, Ole Miss Opportunity, the MOST Conference, the Women’s Leadership Retreat, MLK Day of Service, and the Community Engaged Leadership Minor, among others. 

We are steadfast in our commitment to the transformative power of higher education, and now is the time to prioritize our efforts to broaden access to higher education. However, access alone is not enough. We must be committed to providing opportunities that cultivate academic attainment which leads to meaningful lives and careers.  I look forward to how the new Division of Access, Opportunity, and Community Engagement will help us focus on these key factors. 

Please read our release about the new division.