University Of Wyoming Still Pushes DEI Critics Argue

Under the direction of the Wyoming state legislative body, changes have been made to the University of Wyoming's DEI programs.

Or have they?

Concerns have been raised that the University of Wyoming to curb diversity, equity, and inclusion and eliminate progressive-minded degree programs are essentially window dressing.

The office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion has been closed.

The University of Wyoming Board of Trustees recently voted in May to cancel five degrees, including bachelor’s degrees in African American and Diaspora Studies and Gender and Women’s Studies, reported Wyoming Public Media.

“The programs were identified as ‘low-producing,’ meaning they weren’t graduating enough majors. Gender and Women’s Studies produced 17 graduates in the last five years. African American and Diaspora Studies produced three,” (WPM).

But the university simply rebranded them as minors, which

“does little to address the broader ideological imbalance on campus,” according to one higher education watchdog group.

These changes altogether addressed some bias concerns Republican lawmakers had about a progressive agenda on campus, according to the James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal.

Instead, the changes have been,

“a symbolic gesture that fails to address the deeper structural issues at the University of Wyoming,” argued Jovan Tripkovic, a communications manager The Martin Center.

“[W]hile riding the anti-DEI wave by eliminating undergraduate degrees in African American Studies and Gender and Women’s Studies, the Board of Trustees has chosen to keep many of the courses from these programs. Moving forward, the courses will form the foundation of minors in gender or diaspora studies,” he wrote in a July piece for the center.

Tripkovic told The College Fix that retaining gender studies and diaspora courses as minors proves that this is a cosmetic change.

“Instead of full undergraduate degrees, students can now take these courses as part of minors that closely mirror the canceled programs in both name and structure. And let’s not forget the cosmetic rebranding of the School of Culture, Gender & Social Justice—now renamed the Department of American Cultural Studies. These changes are more about appearances than substance,” Tripkovic said in an email interview.

“The DEI mindset is still alive at the University of Wyoming,” Tripkovic said.