BREAKING: University of Florida lays off all DEI staff

The University of Florida (UF) fired all DEI staff from their positions on Friday.  

In an email from the administration, the people at the college were informed that UF staff related to DEI will be eliminated.  

The email read, "To comply with the Florida Board of Governor's regulation 9.016 on prohibited expenditures, the University of Florida has closed the Office of the Chief Diversity Officer, eliminated DEl positions and administrative appointments, and halted DEl-focused contracts with outside vendors." 

"Additionally, the Office of the Chief Financial Officer will reallocate the approximately $5 million in funds — previously reported to Tallahassee for Del expenses, including salaries and expenditures - into a faculty recruitment fund to be administered by the Office of the Provost," it added. 

UF student publication the Alligator reported that the university fired 13 full-time diversity, equity and inclusion positions and ended 15 DEI administrative appointments, duties that faculty have in addition to their usual roles, on Friday. The employees fired will receive 12 weeks of payment as a severance package.  

“As we educate students by thoughtfully engaging a wide range of ideas and views, we will continue to foster a community of trust and respect for every member of the Gator Nation," the memo concluded. 

Regulation 9.016 prohibits expenditures on “diversity, equity, and inclusion” activities at Florida’s public colleges. These are defined as any “campus activity, or policy that classifies individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, gender identity, or sexual orientation and promotes differential or preferential treatment of individuals on the basis of such classification.” 

Editor’s note: A previous version of this article said that there were 15 DEI administrator appointments eliminated. These were, in fact, administrative roles, or duties that faculty take on in connection to their usual positions.