The Division of Inclusion, Diversity and Equity at the University of Missouri will be removed, effective Aug. 15. 

All programs and staff will be transferred to other MU units, but student groups are concerned that the change puts identity-based student organizations at risk.

“We, as student groups, aren’t really going anywhere,” said Amaya Morgan, the communications chair for the Legion of Black Collegians, the first and only Black student government based at MU. “Things aren’t different, except for our protection. We will not be as protected as we were, and that’s why we are fighting hard for this.”

Last week, MU Chancellor Mun Choi announced that direct reports to the former Vice Chancellor of MU’s IDE Division would be moved to other units. The Legion issued a statement on Instagram shortly after, stating that on Aug. 15, the IDE Department will “cease to exist,” and that they felt clarification was necessary given the vague language used in Choi’s announcement.

Two weeks ago, Choi met with stakeholders, including IDE staff, student organization leaders and donor and alumni groups. He emphasized that the structure changes would not change the resources available to students. Resource centers will have the same physical locations on campus.

However, students can expect the removal of the IDE Division website and Instagram page. Individual student program websites will not change, and can be accessed through the Student Affairs website.

The four IDE departments will report to the following units, starting Aug. 15:

• Inclusive Engagement and Constituent Relations led by Ms. Erika Aaron will report to the Division of Student Affairs.
• Access and Leadership Development led by Dr. NaTashua Davis will report to the Office of the Provost.
• Inclusion and Strategic Initiatives led by Ms. Shruti Rana will report to the Office of the Provost.
• Communications led by Ms. La Toya Stevens will report to the Division of Marketing and Communications.

Choi said the structure change is an effort to preserve student programs and funding amid recent legal challenges to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs in higher education across the nation. The Missouri Legislature has introduced 13 pieces of DEI legislation in the past two years.

“I always think about our support from the state of Missouri, because it is the largest single revenue source for the university,” Choi said.

MU previously lobbied against legislative action threatening DEI programs, in addition to taking “proactive responses” to avoid their passage, Choi said in his announcement. These responses included removing diversity hiring statements and ending race-conscious admissions and scholarships.

Choi said he feels that the removal of the IDE division will increase program integration at MU. For instance, both IDE and Student affairs previously housed divisions of the Student Success program. These divisions will now be integrated, he said during the press call.

“By combining it, we are also making a strong statement that we are being inclusive,” Choi said. “By having it separated, it gave some the perception that those programs and those supports in IDE were only available to those students that are part of the IDE division groups, and that is not the case.”

Student groups, however, are concerned the changes will reduce support for the students that need it.

In their statement, The Legion voiced concern that future government legislation would cause additional restructuring at MU that would jeopardize the organization. The Legion said they plan to meet with the Missouri Students Association monthly to codify the existence of identity-based organizations at MU, in addition to meeting with MU administrators to discuss increased support for Black students.

“After they removed our scholarships, and now this, we don’t know what’s next. We don’t know what’s coming for us,” Morgan said. “We just always have to stay vigilant, stay ready, stay aware, because it might get scary out here.”

Copyedited by Hannah Taylor | htaylor@themaneater.com

Edited by Emily Skidmore | eskidmore@themaneater.com

Edited by Claire Nguyen | cnguyen@themaneater.com 

Edited by Annie Goodykoontz | agoodykoontz@themaneater.com