UFF-FAU supports all faculty and staff who contribute to the excellence of our institution by honoring our commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI), and Social Justice.
The recent demand for reports on expenditures on faculty, policies, and programs related to DEI by Governor Ron DeSantis and the Department of Education is yet another clear example of their political interference and intimidation given the Governor’s proclivity for banning books and discussions related to gender issues, race, and ethnicity.
We are proud of our institution of higher learning that demonstrates our dedicated efforts to fulfill the mission and vision of the Board of Governors, University Boards of Trustees, Presidents, and Provosts in creating an environment where people from various backgrounds and identities are welcome and are free to discuss all issues without fear of reprisals.
In 2020, the Florida State Board of Governors (BOG) published Regulation 2.003, Equity and Access, stating: “Each university shall promote and ensure equal access and opportunity in accordance with this regulation.” This regulation included a rigorous reporting function to ensure progress in implementing these strategic initiatives. Thus, if FAU or any SUS/SCS administrators had no expenditures to report they would be flouting the very regulation the BOG wrote to insure equity.
Moreover, at FAU such DEI efforts were already firmly established prior to the BOG 2020 Regulation. For example, FAU’s 2015-2025, 10-year strategic plan titled “A Strategic Plan for the Race to Excellence” listed diversity as one of the Platforms: “Identify and promote opportunities to diversify our students, faculty, and staff – and build institutional cross-cultural competencies.” This led to impressive efforts across colleges to hire and retain diverse faculty; recruit, retain, and graduate a diverse student body; and provide curriculum and student activities that attend to the complexities of public education in a multiethnic democracy.
Indeed, these efforts are regularly touted as sources of celebration in public statements, related to college rankings, recognition for diversity efforts, and graduation rates. Florida Atlantic University is made desirable in recruitment materials to students BECAUSE of its status as the “most diverse public university.” The president’s website prominently features many of the efforts undertaken as part of the diversity and inclusion commitment made in the 10-year strategic plan, including scholarships, fellowships, institutes, training, and symposia.
More recently, efforts to address racial injustice and social inequities were given even higher priority in the aftermath of incidents of police violence, which disproportionately impacts our student body which is significantly comprised of communities of color. As a Hispanic-serving institution, it was important for FAU to address this reality as a response to student demand. This aligns with former President Kelly’s statements to honor women, LGBTQ+, and Latinx communities, and reaffirm FAU’s commitments to combat hate, as in the recent antisemitic activities on the Boca campus.
The fact that the Governor is now completely contradicting these mandates to ensure equity leads us to question both his motives and the legitimacy behind such politicized, rushed, and uninformed actions.
As such, UFF-FAU calls on Administrators, the Board of Trustees, and the Board of Governors, to support, defend, and promote such efforts and their accompanying expenditures as SUCCESSES, fulfilling core missions, rather than allowing Governor DeSantis and his spokespeople to paint such efforts as something nefarious.
We cannot allow the demonization and targeting of educators and staff, or neglect to address topics that students require to be well-informed citizens.
In Solidarity,
UFF-FAU Executive Committee