University of Florida terminates all DEI positions to comply with new law

The University of Florida announced Friday that it had terminated all of its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) related positions to comply with a new state law that bars state colleges from using state or federal money to fund the programs.

The rule, which the Florida Board of Education implemented in January, said strict regulations would be put on the Florida College System about the use of tax dollars to support DEI. The board said DEI programs are “programs that categorize individuals based on race or sex for the purpose of differential or preferential treatment.”

The University of Florida leadership said in a memo Friday it had closed its Office of the Chief Diversity Officer, eliminated DEI positions and administrative appoints and stopped DEI-focused contracts with third-party vendors.

University employees who lost their positions will receive the standard twelve weeks of severance pay and are encouraged to apply for “expedited consideration for different positions currently posted by the university.”