By: Ted Dabrowski and Nick Binotti | Wirepoints
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) practices at universities across the country are coming under increased scrutiny for their failures. So much so that since 2021, twenty-one states have either banned or proposed banning DEI programs on college campuses.
And with good reason.
The growing backlash began with the Supreme Court ending affirmative action in higher education in June 2023. Then came the accusations of anti-semitism at Harvard and other Ivy League schools. The hypocrisy of DEI practices, both in theory and application, is finally getting a full showing.
So much so that at Wirepoints we have warned Illinois universities, especially U of I, to get ahead of the surging anti-woke backlash. To eliminate or pare down their DEI programs – and the requirement of “loyalty oaths” from professors – before they face wrath of unhappy donors and Americans fed up with “woke” excess.
Unfortunately, there seems to be no evidence of a pullback. The university is still employing dozens of DEI administrators with salaries in the six-figure range.
Leading the pack is Sean Garrick, Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, at the Urbana-Champaign campus. His salary of $364,091 is not only the highest among DEI employees in the U of I system, but the highest among all DEI employees across all state universities.
UIUC also has an Associate Vice Chancellor for Access and Equity and an Executive Associate Vice Chancellor for Diversity.
Read more here.
Related: “The costs of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Illinois universities,” “Florida Eliminates Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Initiatives in Higher Education,” “New Board of Education sworn into office,” and “District 220’s private equity campaign.”