HUNTINGTON Ƶ Marshall University President Brad D. Smith addressed changes to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives at the school during a Board of Governors meeting Wednesday.
This communication follows Gov. Patrick MorriseyƵs Executive Order demanding no department, agency, board or other entity receiving state funds can use state funds or property to grant or support DEI positions, activities, procedures or programs, among other details.
Smith told the board Wednesday, although the university never had a DEI division, it did have a Presidential Commission on DEI, which was transitioned in April 2023 to ƵMarshall for All, Marshall Forever.Ƶ
ƵWe repositioned it to focus on supporting all the different students we serve, and not just to be specific to diversity, equity and inclusion. So we didnƵt have an office to shut down, or a special commission,Ƶ Smith said after the meeting.
ƵWith that being said, the executive order, we are looking at that Ƶ and there are some things that we believe will have to be changed. If it has diversity, equity and inclusion language, if it is preferential to one group and excluding another, if it is training specific to things that they feel are DEI related, and we also agree, then weƵll have to stop those or weƵre going to have to basically reposition them.Ƶ
Smith said the university submitted its list of potential changes in compliance with the executive order to the Higher Education Policy Commission on Friday, Jan. 31. He said the university will be submitting those to Morrisey on Thursday.
Once the university hears back from MorriseyƵs office, Smith said it will have 90 days to make any required changes.
An announcement from Smith sent out to the university Wednesday evening said, after reviewing the requirements of the executive orders, the university is looking to MorriseyƵs office to verify that the following categories are not prohibited by his executive order:
Any items needed for maintaining accreditation, which is required for federal financial aid, student aid and Pell Grants
Programs or courses within the universityƵs academic curriculum meeting standards for degree programs
Anything linked to research funding, grants or contracts
Programs or scholarships which are donor-designated with specific criteria that do not involve state funding
Mental health or physical health services
Federal or nationally recognized observances like Pride Month, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, National WomenƵs History Month and other holidays
He also included a list of areas in the university which already appear to be non-compliant with the executive order and will need changing:
DEI-related programs, activities or training
Activities, services or programs providing benefits based on race, color, sex, ethnicity or national origin
DEI training content ordered only to a certain group
ƵƵ we enter the next 90 days, our work toward compliance starts and changes will begin to occur on campus. We will continue to maintain open lines of communication and transparency with our UniversityƵs shared governance representatives, the broader campus community and state leaders to ensure compliance with the order,Ƶ Smith said in the letter.
Smith said, as a public, state institution that receives federal funds, Marshall is committed to complying with the laws and executive orders that come from the president or governor.
ƵMarshall University is 188 years old, and we have been able to continue to adapt and evolve in all environments, and I am confident that Marshall University will continue to do the right thing and complying with the executive order while continuing our mission that weƵve always had.Ƶ
In other business, Smith shared an update on how the first two cohorts of students who were accepted into the Marshall For All program Ƶ 200 in total Ƶ are performing academically during WednesdayƵs board meeting.
MarshallƵs program covers the final costs of tuition for those chosen with the requirements that they finish their degree within four years, complete an internship and a financial literacy course, and regularly check in with student mentors and academic advisors.
While students were chosen for this program at random since it kicked off during the fall 2023 semester, Provost Avinandan ƵAviƵ Mukherjee told The Herald-Dispatch many of the students were low-income or Pell Grant recipients.
Smith said the fall 2024 cohort of 100 students in the Marshall For All program had a grade point average of 3.08 compared to their Pell-eligible peers who are at an average GPA of 2.69. He said the retention rate for Pell-eligible students in the program is also significantly higher than their peers not in the program.
Smith said the university would choose another 200 students for the fall 2025 semester to complete the program, and by 2037, he estimates every student who is Pell-eligible will be part of the program.
Smith also noted Marshall is still nine points below peer institutions in terms of perception of fair pay. But he said the university is still striving toward bringing all employees to 80% of their midpoint pay grade by 2027.
Chief Financial Officer Matt Tidd also told the board the previously reported $18 million debt the university was facing has been improved by over $3 million, taking it down to about $14 million, which he expects will improve again in April.
Katelyn Aluise is an education and court reporter.
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