University of Florida Terminates DEI Employees

The University of Florida (UF) announced today that it terminated the Office of the Chief Diversity Officer (CDO) and all Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) employees today. The firings are in accordance to a state law passed last year that prohibited state or federal funds being used to violate laws related to discrimination against students and employees.

The UF website described the CDO: “The Office of the Chief Diversity Officer (CDO) charts the inclusive excellence strategy for the university. The chief diversity officer (CDO) is a member of the president’s cabinet and serves as a senior advisor to the president on matters related to the university’s core value of inclusion. The CDO also coordinates the Council for Access, Respect & Engagement (CARE) across the colleges and business units.”

In response to the firings, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis wrote on X, “Florida is where DEI goes to die…”

UF released an administrative memo and announced the terminated employees would receive 12 weeks of pay, and stated they encourage those who were terminated to apply for different positions at the university:

J. Scott Angle, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs; Amy Meyers Hass, Vice President and General Counsel; Melissa Curry, Vice President for Human Resources

To comply with the Florida Board of Governor’s regulation 9.016 on prohibited expenditures, 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.

Under the direction of UF Human Resources, university employees whose positions were eliminated will receive UF’s standard twelve weeks of pay. These colleagues are allowed and encouraged to apply, between now and Friday, April 19, for expedited consideration for different positions currently posted with the university. UF HR will work to fast-track the interview process and provide an answer on all applications within the twelve-week window.

Additionally, the Office of the Chief Financial Officer will reallocate the approximately $5 million in funds — previously reported to Tallahassee for DEI expenses, including salaries and expenditures — into a faculty recruitment fund to be administered by the Office of the Provost.

Finally, the University of Florida is — and will always be — unwavering in our commitment to universal human dignity. As we educate students by thoughtfully engaging a wide range of ideas and views, we will continue to foster a community of trust and respect for every member of the Gator Nation. The University of Florida is an elite institution because of our incredible faculty who are committed to teaching, discovering, and serving.