University of California Drops ‘Diversity Statements’ in Faculty Hiring

The University of California (UC) regents is ending a years-old practice of requiring job applicants to submit “diversity statements,” adding to the growing number of universities and colleges moving away DEI since the election of Donald Trump last year.

In a report from the Los Angeles Times the paper notes that applicants were asked to submit written testimonials of one or two pages about how they have worked to enhance and support racial and other kinds of diversity in their fields. The UC system, began to require these statements  starting in the early 2000s and picked up steam as diversity, equity and inclusion became a mantra across the nation with progressives pushing for DEI.

The change comes on the heels of the federal government announcing a series of investigations of 60 universities and colleges over potential antisemitic and  discrimination and harassment of Jewish students since the attack on Israel by Hamas in October 2023 stoked pro-Hamas demonstrations across the country. UC-Davis, San Diego, Berkeley and Santa Barbara are on the government’s list for investigation. The schools largely stood by while the protesters harassed Jewish students and in some cases occupied campus buildings with little or no punishment.

“The requirement to submit a diversity statement may lead applicants to focus on an aspect of their candidacy that is outside their expertise or prior experience,” Katherine S. Newman, UC provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, said in a letter to campus provosts.

“The regents stated that our values and commitment to our mission have not changed,” the letter said. “We can continue to effectively serve our communities from a variety of life experiences, backgrounds, and points of view without requiring diversity statements.”

While the diversity statements will no longer be allowed during the hiring process, applicants can share any “inclusive academic achievements in teaching, research, and service” during the academic review process.

The  Trump administration has targeted DEI on college and university campuses and there is now a large anti-DEI movement that has seen schools shut down or scale back their DEI offices in addition to banning the diversity statements.