House Bill 261, a bill proposed to open up resources to more students and expand diversity, equity and inclusion in the public school systems, was signed by Gov. Spencer Cox.
Formerly referred to as diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, the policy will be replaced by the student success bill, or Equal Opportunity Initiative.
DEI was a policy in place to ensure everyone, regardless of their identity, had a safe and protected space in the workplace. However, many Utahns felt DEI was giving groups of people who historically have been underrepresented an unfair advantage.
The main goal of House Bill 261, is to make services available to all students by changing DEI offices into student success centers. Utah lawmakers stated that they will not be closing down any resources, only opening them to all students.
This new policy will not only replace DEI offices, but it will prohibit schools from giving students state-funded scholarships based on race and ban employers from asking potential employees to elaborate on their beliefs. Students who are currently getting support from DEI programs have growing concerns that cultural and ethnic history will be erased.
Given that this bill could impact scholarship money for students in minority groups, a last-minute change was made so universities could protect private scholarships. The bill now supports universities giving students scholarships based on their race as long as the money is received exclusively through donors and it is not state-funded.
In the future, students can expect to see the expansion of student success centers while other DEI specific resources tailored to at-risk students fade out.
Author: Maggie Whipple and Anna Mower
Photographer: Anna Mower
Editor: Anna Mower
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