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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Indiana University has closed its Office of the Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) and reorganized several student programs to follow new state and federal guidelines, the university said Wednesday.

The DEI office was ended immediately. Its responsibilities will now fall under general student services. IU said the goal is to follow legal rules while offering equal access to resources for all students.

The university also renamed its Office of Institutional Equity. It is now the Office of Civil Rights Compliance, which will focus on enforcing federal civil rights laws. Some student and cultural programs are being merged into general student offices. IU says this makes resources available to everyone, not just specific groups.

These changes come after Governor Mike Braun issued an executive order in January replacing DEI policies in state government with a new approach: Merit, Excellence, and Innovation (MEI). His order closed the state’s equity office and told agencies to review their policies for compliance.

Earlier this year, the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus (IBLC) strongly criticized Braun’s order. State Rep. Earl Harris Jr. (D-East Chicago), the group’s chair, said the governor was ignoring real problems like poor health, poverty, and housing. Instead, he said, Braun is targeting programs meant to make government reflect the people it serves.

“DEI isn’t about handouts,” Harris said. “It’s about helping those who have long been overlooked get a fair shot.”

He also said MEI spreads a false and harmful idea — that DEI programs reward people based only on race. “That’s not true,” Harris said. “And it hurts minority workers across the state.”

IU hasn’t directly said its changes are tied to Braun’s order. But the timing and tone suggest the university is responding to growing political pressure to pull back from DEI efforts — a trend playing out at colleges across the country.

Full text of IU’s press release:

IU affirms student success focus, takes steps to comply with state and federal guidance

By IU Today

May 22, 2025

As Indiana University prioritizes initiatives to provide students with universal access to resources, programs and services that support their success, it is also taking steps to ensure the university is fully compliant with state and federal laws and guidance regarding diversity, equity and inclusion.

The university continues to update and enhance student success initiatives. This includes efforts related to academic advising, engagement and student well-being, among other efforts to make a robust array of resources available to all students.

Select student programs and centers on IU’s campuses have been integrated into student-facing offices, positioning them to provide programming and resources that are universally available to all students across IU campuses.

To further ensure compliance with state and federal guidance, the Office of the Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion will sunset, effective today. The university is also directing campuses, schools and units to take necessary steps to ensure compliance with state and federal policies and guidance.

Finally, the Office of Institutional Equity has transitioned to become the Office of Civil Rights Compliance, which more accurately reflects its work and mission to oversee the university’s compliance with federal civil rights laws.

Where necessary, the university will communicate directly with relevant students, faculty, staff and other stakeholders to provide additional information and support. IU will continue to affirm its fundamental goal of ensuring every student is equipped to thrive — in the classroom and after graduation.

https://today.iu.edu/live/news/45776-iu-affirms-student-success-focus-takes-steps-to?utm_campaign=iu-today&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_content=iu%7Cxx%7Cot%7Cemail%7Cemnws%7Cown%7Cxx%7Ckpv%7Cstem%7Cstema%7Cxx%7Cxx%7Cxx%7Cxx%7Cglob%7Cxx%7Ccrm%7Cxx%7Cxx%7C2025-05-23-02%7C900

The post IU Shuts Down Diversity Office, Restructures Programs Amid Political Pressure; Black Lawmakers Slam Statewide Rollback of DEI Initiatives first appeared on The Bloomingtonian.