The University of Connecticut announced the merger of the Office of Institutional Equity (OIE) and Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) into a new Office of Inclusion and Civil Rights last month.
The new Office of Inclusion and Civil Rights will continue the work of OIE and ODI offices, bringing together experts from both units to foster increased support and collaboration, according to the letter addressed to the university community on Oct. 1.
The merger is a response from community feedback asking for greater clarity and alignment between the two units, University Spokesperson Stephanie Reitz said.
As the federal administration has targeted DEI initiatives at colleges and universities throughout the past year, schools around the country have responded by eliminating resources and offices focused on these principles. The Chronicle for Higher Education has tracked DEI changes at 415 college campuses in 47 states.
While some schools have gotten rid of DEI centers entirely, such as Sacred Heart University which shut down its Multicultural and Sexuality and Gender Equity centers in August, others are changing the names of their offices, removing the words “diversity” and “equity” as a result of the crackdown.
Reitz said the conversation and assessment of the merger has been ongoing for more than a year and does not have anything to do with the current basis of DEI threats to higher education on a national landscape.
The change of name at UConn will not change any core commitments, rather it will create a stronger framework in advancing inclusion by repurposing roles.
“It also allows us to streamline our efforts in civil rights and equal employment opportunity compliance, education and training, and diversity, equity and inclusion while continuing to provide responsive support and referrals across the University,” she said.
Alex Barkhamer, an intern what is now the Office of Inclusion and Civil Rights, had not anticipated a merger before it was publicly announced but said that none of his duties have changed since the merger occurred, and the expectations within the office have not changed either.
“At the moment, from the narrow perspective of an intern, it seems as though the merger is currently a change in name only,” Barkhamer said.
Reitz noted that some organizational changes will occur but will not be noticeable by students.
As stated in the letter, Jeffrey Hines will lead the new Office for Inclusion and Civil Rights and Sarah Chipman, who has led OIE on an interim basis as associate vice president, will serve as director of Civil Rights Compliance, leading a team focused on Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) / Section 504, Title VI, Title VII, Title IX and related non-discrimination compliance within the new unit. Chipman will continue serving as the university’s ADA, Title VI and Title IX Coordinator.
All resources available from ODI can continue to be accessed on their website: www.diversity.uconn.edu and all information and processes provided through OIE also remain available on their websites: www.equity.uconn.edu, www.accessibility.uconn.edu and www.titleix.uconn.edu