Kentucky universities to legislators: We're complying with new anti-DEI law

LEXINGTON, Ky. — University leaders across Kentucky say they are in compliance with the new law banning diversity, equity and inclusion policies and practices, which went into effect at the end of June.

House Bill 4, which was passed by Kentucky lawmakers earlier this year, requires public universities and the Kentucky Community and Technical College System to dismantle and defund all DEI initiatives. That includes offices, policies and practices “designed or implemented to promote or provide preferential treatment or benefits to individuals on the basis of religion, sex, color, or national origin” under the law.

Schools had to be in compliance with the law by the time it went into effect on June 27.

At a education budget subcommittee meeting on Tuesday, representatives from each of the eight public universities and KCTCS said they were in compliance. Kentucky State University said it was in “substantial compliance” by that date, with full compliance expected by Aug. 30.

“A goal of this hearing is to ensure that we make every effort to end discrimination, promote academic freedom and to make sure all Kentucky students have the equal opportunity to pursue higher education,” said committee chair Sen. Steve Rawlings, R-Burlington.

Universities were asked to submit a report touching on several topics, including changes made to eliminate DEI, if any financial savings were achieved in the process and if any employees were fired to come into compliance.

Several universities adopted a “viewpoint neutrality policy,” including Eastern Kentucky University, Western Kentucky, Kentucky State University and KCTCS. These policies state the institution will remain neutral on political and social issues that may intersect with higher education and not make statements about such issues.

As part of the meeting, universities also were asked to report if eliminating DEI had resulted in financial savings.

Most universities said they had not tracked savings, or there was no significant financial impact by eliminating DEI offices or practices. Some, like KCTCS, said previous spending on DEI had been reallocated into other areas of the school.

UK said several contracts had been eliminated and university funds would no longer be used to participate in “DEI events,” though specific savings had not been tracked.

NKU said approximately $330,000 was saved in the process of coming into compliance with the new law, with the potential for additional savings next year. A spokesperson from NKU said those savings came from closing its Office of Inclusive Excellence last year, which was eliminated after the chief diversity officer resigned.

WKU estimated that roughly $13,000 was saved by no longer allowing employees to attend DEI-specific conferences and trainings.

School officials also said references to DEI have been removed from campus and websites, and scholarships have been redesigned to remove race or identity as a deciding factor.

At the end of the meeting, Rawlings read a statement against DEI.

“Despite its origins in addressing the injustices highlighted at Brown v. Board of Education, DEI has not delivered measurable benefits for Kentucky students, especially disadvantaged students,” he said.

“What began with good intentions has evolved into a multi-billion dollar industry rife with tokenism, lacking clear metrics and producing no meaningful improvement to student outcomes.”

As DEI offices were dissolved, universities said employees in those offices were reassigned to other areas, and statewide, no employees were terminated as a result of compliance with HB 4. At two universities — Northern Kentucky University and Eastern Kentucky University — DEI offices were dissolved after the departure of chief diversity officers, according to reports submitted on Tuesday.

At KCTCS, one employee voluntarily retired and the position was eliminated, and other vacant positions were eliminated, according to meeting materials.

The University of Louisville added positions to address compliance with HB 4, which Sen. Stephen West, R-Paris, said he was “disappointed” to learn.

“During the implementation phase, we found that several members of the Office of University Council were spending approximately half of their time over the two-month implementation period reviewing job descriptions, analyzing policies, editing gifts and answering many, many questions from community stakeholders,” said Angela Curry, chief legal counsel at UofL.

As a result, the university hired additional legal council to address compliance, she said.

Anti-DEI bill history

The bill that passed this year came one year after a similar bill, which was also filed by Waddy Republican Rep. Jennifer Decker, failed to pass in 2024.

Earlier this year, House Bill 4 was vetoed by Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear, who said the law was rooted in “hate,” but the GOP supermajority legislature overrode the veto and it became law.

After decrying 2024’s proposal to ban DEI, anticipating similar legislation would be introduced in 2025, University of Kentucky President Eli Capilouto announced in August 2024 that UK would dismantle its Office of Institutional Diversity

Shortly after, NKU made a similar move. Republicans at the time praised those decisions.

Last summer, UK also announced it would no longer make statements on political or partisan events or issues, including on the university website, months after Capilouto called the legislature’s mobilization to dismantle DEI programs “deeply concerning.”

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—Reporter Alex Acquisto contributed to this story.