Oklahoma Governor Signs Executive Order Eliminating DEI Programs
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt signed an executive order on Wednesday mandating state agencies, including public colleges, to report and cease funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.
The executive order aims to eliminate programs designed to prioritize individuals based on their race or ethnicity. Governor Stitt described DEI programs as ones that are intended to “divide” individuals.
“In Oklahoma, we’re going to encourage equal opportunity, rather than promising equal outcomes,” said Governor Stitt. “Encouraging our workforce, economy, and education systems to flourish means shifting focus away from exclusivity and discrimination, and toward opportunity and merit. We’re taking politics out of education and focusing on preparing students for the workforce.”
Governor Stitt also emphasized the need to redirect funds from DEI programs to educational initiatives, stating, “Use those monies to educate kids instead of trying to preferentially treat people based on their race.”
Conservatives in Oklahoma have attempted to combat DEI programs in the state for the last year. In April, the Oklahoma Board of Education voted in favor of a requirement for every public school in its district to report all funding towards DEI programs for the 2022-23 academic year.
While this executive order also applies to DEI programs at state universities, it specifically states that it does not apply to programs designed to assist first-generation students, students with low-income families, students with “unique abilities,” or underserved student populations.
The University of Oklahoma President Joseph Harroz acknowledged the executive order’s impact on DEI offices, describing it as a “step backward.” However, the university acknowledged that it must comply with the governor’s order.
“For many of us, this news evokes deep concern and uncertainty about the future, and in many ways feels like a step backward,” Harroz argued in a statement. “Though we are obligated to comply with the governor’s executive order, we will remain committed to ensuring an education from the University of Oklahoma remains accessible and available to all, and we will continue to work to recruit and retain a workforce of talented and qualified minds that is representative of our state.”
