University of Florida fires all staff in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion positions

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – An administrative University of Florida memo went out to staff this week, with the subject line, “Compliance with Board of Governor’s Regulation 9.016 on Prohibited Expenditures.” This relates to positions dealing with Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

The memo states that, “the University of Florida has closed the office of the Chief Diversity Officer, eliminated DEI positions and administrative appointments and halted DEI-focused contracts with outside vendors.”

The Chief Financial Officer at UF is expected to reallocate the approximately $5 million previously marked for DEI expenses to a faculty recruitment fund.

The employees who lost their jobs will get twelve weeks of pay and are encouraged to apply for different positions at UF.