Chancellor Mauli Agrawal announced the closure of the central office of Diversity and Inclusion on Friday Oct. 25, as UMKC plans to move to a decentralized campus inclusion structure beginning Nov. 1.
“UMKC has had a largely successful decentralized model for years,” said Agrawal in the statement. “We will appoint a new coordinating council comprising cross-campus leadership and others who will be charged with ensuring that we stay focused on achieving the goals and metrics set out in Pillar 4.”
The fourth pillar of the UMKC strategic plan is to foster an environment of inclusive opportunity and excellence.
Agrawal cites these upcoming changes to stakeholder meetings as well as “recent national and legislative trends.”
President Mun Choi at the University of Missouri-Columbia has been vocal about the Republican legislature having a direct effect on the decision to close their own DEI office this past July.
Missouri’s changes reflect a national trend at universities, which have been targeted by GOP lawmakers who are combative about any efforts at diversity or outreach to minority groups.
In the statement, Agrawal wrote that Interim Vice Chancellor Viviana Greico will help facilitate the transition of responsibilities to other groups: External Relations and Constituent Engagement, Human Resources and Curriculum and Assessment.
After responsibilities are dispersed, Agrawal intends to form a new coordinating council that will replace the former chancellor’s Diversity Council.
“Symbolically, the new council reflects my belief that we all have a role in fostering inclusive excellence and opportunity on this campus,” said Agrawal in the statement. “When a goal or initiative is centered in one office, or under one leader, it’s too easy to think that work is someone else’s job, not ours.”
Director of Strategic Communications Stacy Downs explains the decision was in correlation to the commitment to UMKC’s Strategic Plan.
“After discussions with stakeholders this fall, UMKC leaders decided to slightly modify inclusion efforts,”said Downs. “The UMKC Strategic Plan lays out our commitment and vision for inclusive opportunity and excellence.”
