The University of Alaska system, like many educational institutions around the nation, has systemic DEI and affirmative-action ideology woven into many of its practices, curriculum, campus events and hiring protocols.
The Trump administration, however, has made it clear that any consideration of race in hiring, admissions, scholarships and “all other aspects of student, academic and campus life” is illegal. Schools that engage in this behavior now stand to lose their coveted federal grants.
Earlier this year, the University of Alaska Board of Regents ordered all campuses to scrub their websites and other electronic or print material of references to “affirmative action,” “DEI” or “diversity, equity and inclusion.” Additionally, the regents directed that all staff position titles be purged of these references.
Colleges across the U.S. are following similar strategies – slightly modifying official language and restructuring a few programs, while continuing to promote and support DEI and affirmative action under different names.
This led to backlash from many entrenched staff, as well as left-leaning students.
In November, however, the regents are set to take yet another step by purging DEI/affirmative-action language from official university policy, which guides campus operations.
None of this, though, may actually lead to any real changes on the ground.
On Sept. 5, just hours after the regents’ most recent meeting in Juneau, in which the board discussed the proposed changes, the University of Alaska public relations arm sent out a statement. It noted that the proposed changes to policy would merely add “clarified language” in order to align with new federal rules from the Trump administration, nothing more.
ALASKA WATCHMAN DIRECT TO YOUR INBOX
“As a practical matter, if adopted by the board [of regents] in November, the policy updates will not result in changes to UA’s current hiring or admission practices, which remain consistent with long-standing federal guidance barring discrimination,” the university stated.
Current University of Alaska policy is riddled with references to affirmative action verbiage, as well as a commitment to “recruit and retain women and minorities in positions of employment where they have been traditionally underrepresented.”
It’s unclear why elimination of that language would have no impact of current operations, unless the policy is merely window dressing to avoid losing federal grants.
Whether this is what the Trump administration had in mind, remains to be seen, but many universities around the country are following similar strategies – slightly modifying official language and restructuring a few programs, while continuing to promote and support DEI and affirmative action under different names.
Click here to support Alaska Watchman reporting.
