Jacksonville State University will close its Office of Diversity and Inclusion on May 31 in response to a new Alabama law banning DEI programs at state institutions.
“This decision was not made lightly but is necessary to ensure compliance with the new legal framework imposed by Act 2024-34,” JSU President Don Killingsworth Jr. said in a notice sent to students and staff on Wednesday and reviewed by AL.com.
The move is the first publicly known response by state universities to SB129, which asks for sweeping changes or cancellations to state agencies and public colleges with DEI offices and programming. The law, which bans any program that “advocates for a divisive concept,” goes into effect Oct. 1.
Alabama joins at least 20 other states that have introduced legislation targeting college diversity and inclusion efforts as of July 2023. In Florida and Texas, colleges have either cut staff entirely, or renamed departments and roles.
In Alabama, JSU appears to be the first of the state’s public colleges to act on the law. Other campuses have said they still are working with lawyers to determine their next steps.
Alabama four-year universities reported a total of about $16 million in spending on diversity programs in 2022.
According to a response to a survey from legislators last spring, JSU reported just $152,830 in spending on salaries for a director of diversity and inclusion, Charlcie Pettway Vann, and an administrative assistant. University documents show the office recently supported four students on work study programs.
The university said no staff positions will be lost in the transition.
“All current employees within the Office of Diversity and Inclusion have been offered and have accepted positions in other areas across campus,” Killingsworth wrote. “The decision to close the office ahead of the Oct. 1 deadline, as mandated by the state, is to ensure these employees have sufficient time to transition to their new roles before the flurry of the fall semester begins.
“As we undergo this transition we reaffirm our commitment to fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment for all members of the Jax State community.”
A spokeswoman declined to provide any additional information.
“This is an unprecedented time, and things are in limbo at the moment, so we’re just taking it one day at a time and just trusting our advisers to lead us in the right way,” Tresston Ray, an administrative assistant, told AL.com Wednesday. He said he could not comment further on the changes.
The law also prohibits college instructors from teaching from a list of so-called “divisive concepts,” and bans universities from allowing individuals to use bathrooms that do not match their sex assigned at birth.
It does specifically protect college instructors who talk about the role of racism and slavery during the founding of the United States. It also protects women’s sports organizations and student affinity groups. Students or staff can host a DEI program or event, but they can’t use state money to fund it.
While there is no civil or criminal penalty for noncompliance, the legislature can withhold funds from institutions that continue to maintain diversity offices, according to the state Legislative Services Agency.
“The Legislature does not play a role in the implementation of laws, that is the function of the executive branch,” LSA Director Othni Lathram told AL.com in March. “That said, the Legislature does exercise oversight and the power of appropriation. All state funds provided to institutions of higher education must be appropriated by the Legislature and the extent to which those institutions follow the law is relevant to that process.”
Diversity efforts at JSU have dated back as far as the 1990s, documents show. The college opened an Office of Minority Affairs in 1996, which was later named the Office of Multicultural Services.
The office, like many across the country, was formed to help ensure compliance with federal non-discrimination laws by providing guidance on school policies and procedures, as well as avenues to request accommodations and to file complaints.
The university hired its first chief diversity officer in 2016, and in June 2020, officials announced plans to offer staff training, student committees, and more diverse course offerings.
The small department also coordinates support groups for LGBTQ students, diversity trainings for staff, and events celebrating various cultures and the contributions of minority groups.
It is unclear if that work will continue through a different department. An upcoming inclusion celebration has been canceled due to a lack of participation, according to the office’s Facebook page.
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