Arizona Public Universities Celebrate Victory for Free Speech as DEI Hiring Statements Are Abandoned

Arizona Public Universities Stop Requesting Diversity Statements on Job Applications

Arizona's public universities have decided to stop requesting "diversity statements" on their job applications, a move that has been hailed as a victory for free speech advocates. Previously, a significant number of faculty job postings at Arizona State University, the University of Arizona, and Northern Arizona University required applicants to submit diversity statements as part of the hiring process. This requirement was criticized by the conservative Goldwater Institute, which conducted a study earlier this year.

According to a report from the Institute, job postings at the University of Arizona, Northern Arizona University, and Arizona State University have varying requirements for diversity statements. As of fall 2022, 28% of job postings at the University of Arizona had a mandatory diversity statement. Northern Arizona University had a higher percentage, with 73% of job postings requiring a diversity statement. However, Arizona State University had the highest portion, with 81% of job postings requiring a diversity statement.

According to a report, the Arizona university system has been requiring job applicants to submit a diversity statement instead of a traditional cover letter. These statements should be two full pages long and focus on the candidate's activism or commitment to diversity. In some cases, applicants were even asked to endorse progressive concepts like "intersectional personal identities."

Public universities in Arizona have decided to remove the requirement for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) statements on job postings. The Arizona Board of Regents, which oversees the state's public university system, clarified that while they never mandated DEI statements, some departments within the universities may have included this request in job applications.

The universities' Board of Regents has announced that they will no longer require Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) statements in job applications. They have stated that any job postings that still include a request for DEI statements will be updated to remove it.

The Goldwater Institute has claimed that the requirement of diversity statements is unconstitutional based on both the First Amendment and Arizona's state Constitution. They argue that Arizona's Constitution prohibits any religious or political test or qualification for admission into public educational institutions.

The Goldwater Institute has declared the elimination of diversity statements as a significant win for academic freedom and the First Amendment. According to the institute's president and CEO, Victor Riches, these statements and DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) programs do not promote free expression or diversity of thought. Additionally, Goldwater Institute senior fellow Jonathan Butcher argues that DEI programs are based on critical race theory, which he views as a racially discriminatory worldview.

The content provided highlights the controversial topics of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and Critical Race Theory (CRT) in educational institutions. It mentions that these subjects have become a contentious issue in both university classes and K-12 public schools. Additionally, it states that some states have eliminated DEI statements for public university jobs.

In April, Governor Greg Abbott of Texas signed a bill that prohibits diversity statements and the establishment of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) offices in higher education institutions across the state. This means that universities in Texas are no longer allowed to require or encourage students, faculty, or staff to make diversity statements. Additionally, DEI programs will no longer receive state funding.

Similarly, in May, Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida signed legislation that bans diversity statements and cuts state and federal funding for DEI programs at state universities. This means that universities in Florida are now prohibited from requiring or promoting diversity statements, and DEI programs will no longer receive financial support from the state or federal government.