Diversity Programs at Utah’s Public Colleges and Universities: Impact and Concerns
In a recent news conference, Utah Governor Spencer Cox expressed skepticism about the impact of diversity programs at the state’s public colleges and universities. This led to the passage of HB261, a new law requiring these institutions to overhaul their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts. While school administrators have provided data to demonstrate the accomplishments of their DEI offices, there are concerns that the gains made could be lost under the new law.
Each school in Utah has chosen to focus on different populations, such as Latinos, women, and first-generation students. Despite the varied approaches, all institutions point to improvements in graduation and enrollment rates as evidence of the positive effects of their DEI efforts. However, with the implementation of HB261, there is uncertainty about whether these gains will be sustained.
The sponsor of HB261 admitted that she did not have data to support her bill’s necessity, specifically concerning white students being left behind. In reality, white students in Utah’s higher education institutions have continued to outperform their representation in the state’s general population. Their enrollment numbers have remained steady, indicating that DEI initiatives have not negatively impacted white students.
Let’s take a closer look at what each university and college in Utah has highlighted regarding their DEI efforts and the accomplishments they have achieved for marginalized students.
Utah Valley University (UVU) has focused its DEI efforts on selected groups of students who are more likely to drop out. The school has successfully increased retention rates for female students by 6%, first-generation college students by 10%, Latino students by 16%, Pacific Islanders by 23%, and veterans by 37%. While female students now have similar retention rates as men, minority racial and ethnic groups are still behind by at least 5 percentage points compared to white students. However, UVU’s overall graduation rate has increased by 24% over the past five years.
Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) set a DEI goal in 2016 to have its student enrollment rate align with the racial and ethnic demographics of Salt Lake County. The college has achieved this goal and made significant gains with Latino students. SLCC now has the largest Latino student population in the state, accounting for 21.2% of its student body. To bridge the gap, SLCC has provided support through initiatives like childcare assistance for parents and mental health services for veterans.
The University of Utah (U) compiles an annual report highlighting its DEI work across various offices and centers for students. This report includes significant achievements, such as the American Indian Resource Center hosting a powwow and the Dream Center distributing $169,000 in grants to students in the DACA program. The university also has a Racist & Bias Incident Response Team responsible for addressing incidents of discrimination on campus. Despite recent protests against U’s DEI efforts, the school has seen improvements, including a 23% increase in the number of events held by its DEI offices.
Utah Tech University takes a broad approach to DEI and focuses on supporting students from rural communities. Currently, 60% of the school’s student population comes from rural areas. Utah Tech has also made efforts to enroll and graduate more students of color. Changing its name from one associated with slavery and the Civil War Confederacy resulted in a 35% increase in students of color graduating within one year.
Utah State University (USU) has prioritized increasing the number of first-generation college students. The Aggies First Scholars program has led to a 16% increase in enrollment for these students. USU also focuses on supporting students of color, LGBTQ students, students with disabilities, and international students. The school has created a division dedicated to DEI to provide targeted support for these populations.
Weber State University has improved its retention and graduation rates by supporting first-generation students. Over the past decade, the school has seen an 11.5 percentage point increase in retention rates and a 10 percentage point jump in completion rates for bachelor’s degrees. Weber State has also closed the gap in retaining Latino students, who make up 12% of the population at the university.
Southern Utah University (SUU) measures the success of its DEI initiatives through graduation and retention rates, with a focus on lower-income students. The school has not raised tuition in five years to make college more affordable. SUU also offers an online bachelor’s degree program designed for students who dropped out but still have some credits, providing them with a cost-effective path to a diploma. These efforts have resulted in a 15% increase in retention rates and a 22% increase in graduation rates.
Snow College, the smallest public higher education institution in Utah, has prioritized creating a welcoming environment for students through its DEI initiatives. The school hosts events to foster inclusion and diversity on campus and strives to increase representation in its marketing materials. Snow College tracks the success of its efforts through an annual report to the Student Affairs Division.
While each institution in Utah has focused on different populations and approaches to DEI, they all share the goal of improving graduation and enrollment rates. The data provided by these colleges and universities demonstrates the positive impact of their diversity programs. However, with the implementation of HB261, there are concerns that these gains could be undermined. It remains to be seen how the new law will shape the future of DEI efforts in Utah’s public higher education institutions.
