Navigating Diversity: Initiatives at the University of Arkansas
Founded in 1871 as a land-grant institution, the University of Arkansas (U of A) stands as the flagship of the University of Arkansas System. With a student body of 27,000 representing all 50 states and over 120 countries, the U of A comprises 10 colleges and schools offering more than 210 academic programs. Diversity and inclusion have become increasingly important aspects of higher education, especially at institutions with such a diverse student population. The University of Arkansas has historically implemented various initiatives aimed at fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive campus environment. However, like many universities across the nation, the U of A has faced challenges and changes in its approach to DEI, particularly in response to evolving legal and political landscapes.
Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
One of the guiding priorities from the University of Arkansas’ strategic plan is to enrich campus diversity and inclusion. To help the U of A create and sustain a diverse, inclusive environment, the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion offers support for initiatives, policies and programming designed to impact the overall culture at the university. Our office provides students, faculty, staff and regional communities across Arkansas with access to the necessary resources, information and training to make this happen. The Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion has five strategic goals to ensure safety and inclusion at the University of Arkansas. As part of its requirements of the "Diversity Certification program", the university's HR department provides free monthly Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion trainings. The Athletic Department also partners with Hogs UNITED to host "Quarterly Training Opportunities," including "Safe Zone Training, Microaggression Awareness Sessions, Implicit/Unconscious Bias Awareness Sessions, Confronting and Combating -Isms," among other opportunities.
The university's library previously offered resources on "Antiracism +Being an Ally," including Ibram X. The Office of Multicultural Affairs sends students to conferences each year including the Southwest Black Student Leadership Conference and the National Student Leadership Diversity Convention. The conventions focus on "the most critical topics of diversity and social justice challenging campuses today" along with workshops and sessions.
The College of Business' Office of Diversity and Inclusion states that it would be a "thought [leader]" in the areas of "Curriculum Enrichment" and "Diversity Intelligence" in order to advance its efforts.
Dissolving DEI Offices
In a move that reflects the shifting landscape of DEI in higher education, the University of Arkansas made the decision to dissolve its diversity, equity, and inclusion offices. On June 21, 2023, Inside Higher Ed published an article titled "Dissolving a DEI Office to Save DEI," which discusses the reasons and possible outcomes of the University of Arkansas' decision to dissolve its diversity, equity, and inclusion offices. According to Stephen Caldwell, chair of the university's Faculty Senate, "all of the people on our campus doing that type of work [DEI] are going to stay and will continue doing that type of work, just reporting to different people." However, Paulette Granberry Russell, president of the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education had a different take on how this would affect DEI programming at the university and stated, "'In an environment that is so highly politicized right now, colleges, universities and systems are at a point where they feel the need to change…
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External Pressures and Policy Changes
Higher ed institutions have been grappling with how to comply with an increasing number of federal and state directives and rules aimed at dismantling initiatives related to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in recent years. The University of Alabama, for example, suspended publication of two magazines Monday, claiming they were out of compliance with federal DEI guidance. Last year, the Trump administration issued a “Dear Colleague” letter to all pre-K through 12 schools, colleges and universities who receive federal funding outlining its opposition to diversity initiatives it called discriminatory, and threatened to withhold federal funds from schools if they had diversity or equity programs. As a result, the board moved quickly to comply, approving a policy to scrub references to DEI and affirmative action from all university programs and operations, job titles and office names.
At the time, Ralph Seekins, chair of the Board of Regents, defended the policy, saying the action to remove DEI language as committing to “equal opportunity” for everyone. Several education and civil rights groups filed lawsuits and a federal court blocked the directive in April. This week, a New Hampshire federal judge dismissed the case, following a January agreement by both parties and the Department of Education to drop its appeal. The ruling invalidates the directive, and prevents the government from enforcing it. Federal agencies can still pursue similar goals through other legal or regulatory means and have demonstrated an intent to focus oversight or investigations on what they see as DEI-related policies and programs using mechanisms other than agency guidance (the original Dear Colleague letter),” he wrote.
Taylor said the board enacted the policy to mitigate risks of federal funding being withheld. He said the board has had to “balance their concern about the potential medium- and long-term regulatory and funding risks to which UA may be exposed with the University’s unchanging and unwavering commitment to equal access, equal opportunity, and no discrimination, as well as free speech, academic freedom, and freedom of expression.” Taylor added that overall, UA has so far been effectively able to “weather the storm” of federal funding cuts, grant freezes and terminations. As of September, and most recently available data, UA had roughly $530 million in active federal grants. There has been $24.6 million, or 4.6% that have been delayed, frozen or terminated.
Faculty and Student Concerns
The item was not on the Board of Regents’ February meeting agenda, scheduled for two days this week in Dillingham, at the University of Fairbanks’ Bristol Bay campus. But several university faculty weighed in during public comment to the board on Monday. Jill Dumesnil, a professor of mathematics at the University of Southeast and president of the largest faculty union, United Academics, called on board members to create updated guidance following the ruling. “Many faculty are still experiencing a chilling effect on our campuses. Some fear retaliation or punishment for teaching or discussing DEI-related subject matter, others just feel uncomfortable, unsupported and unwelcome,” she said. “Teaching about race, racism, inequality and related issues, continues to be lawful, supporting students in a way that acknowledges racial or ethnic identities continues to be lawful,” she added. “Schools may continue operating programs that encourage diversity, equity and inclusion in accordance with existing law, and the Dear Colleague letter and the certification requirement cannot be enforced against educators or schools.”
Michael Navarro, a professor of marine fisheries at the University of Alaska Southeast, and co-chair of the Belonging, Empowerment, Access, Representation and Safety Committee, known as UAS BEARS, made a plea to the board to rescind the anti-DEI motion. “As a direct result of this board decision, UAS has lost faculty and staff and some students question the university’s commitment to their success and safety on campus,” he said. “Despite the anti-DEI motions, reaffirmation towards maintaining a welcoming environment and honoring Alaska Native culture and heritage, after this motion, many people now feel less welcome or even unwelcome, and are not testifying today because they don’t feel safe to do so.”
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Taylor, with the university, said as of now the board does not have plans to take up the issue but continually accepts written comments from the public. “The Board continues to receive testimony both in support of and in opposition to last year’s motion, and takes that feedback into consideration when setting meeting agendas,” he said. To date, the University of Alaska Fairbanks has taken the hardest hit with federal funding cutbacks - of the $24.6 million in grants delayed, frozen or terminated, approximately $20 million has been at UAF, including $8.8 million terminated for funded programs for Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian students last year.
We as the Diversity and Inclusion Student Council (DISC) are concerned about the impact of dissolving the Diversity Equity Inclusion (DEI) Office at the University of Arkansas, and its repercussions on students, faculty, and staff. With the recent legal attacks against the Black Graduate Students Association (BGSA), a registered student organization (RSO), and the allegations of racial discrimination in the BIPOC Mentor Circle Series the situation of how to address DEI related issues has been further exacerbated. The Equal Protection Project, a right-wing group, has filed grievances against various organizations and events across the country, including the BIPOC Mentor Circle Series hosted by the Black Graduate Students Association (BGSA) in collaboration with Walmart and Sam’s Club. These claims against the University of Arkansas highlight the need to have support regarding DEI initiatives available to the campus community. We encourage you to read our letter to learn more about the state of DEI at the University of Arkansas and the concerns of the Council.
Scholarship Modifications
Documents the Advocate obtained through a public records request show that in July 2025, the University of Arkansas’ review also considered two new laws passed by the Arkansas General Assembly during this year’s legislative session. “The issue here is that if there is a sex restricted scholarship in support of an academic unit, there is an exception under the Title IX regulations through which the scholarship can be awarded, but only if it is grouped with a larger set of scholarships, with the recipients chosen without regard to sex,” Thomas said.
Kinslow and Russell W. Kinslow, an architecture school alum and the scholarship’s benefactor, said he first learned university officials were considering changing his scholarship through an informal conversation about a year ago. The Andrew A. Kinslow Interior Design Scholarship awarded $1,000 to a 3rd or 4th year student from Arkansas interested in commercial design. “I think what we were trying to do was to make sure that we were interviewing everyone who applied and then picking the best person from that group,” he said.
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