Hamar House on the campus of Michigan Technological University, is seen in this photo taken Friday morning. For years it has been the location of the Center for Diversity and Inclusion (CDI). With the resent closure of the CDI the building will now house the new Center for Convergence and Innovation, a joint initiative of the College of Business and the College of Computing. (Graham Jaehnig/Daily Mining Gazette)

HOUGHTON — Where Have Diversity and Inclusion Gone?

Michigan Tech has touted diversity and inclusion as priorities for decades. No longer. The words have been scrubbed from centers, programs, the curriculum, even the university’s website.

The Center for Diversity and Inclusion (CDI)–long a safe gathering place for minorities, women, the LGBTQ+ community and other under-represented groups–has been closed, its staff absorbed into the Waino Wahtera Center for Student Success. Hamar House, long the home of the CDI, will now house the new Center for Convergence and Innovation, a joint intiative of the College of Business and College of Computing to train business professionals to incorporate computing and future technologies into their work.

The vice president for diversity and inclusion is now vice president for community engagement. And at its recent meeting, the university’s Board of Trustees terminated its diversity incentive awards–scholarships that have paid the way for minority and underrepresented students to earn bachelor’s degrees at Tech for nearly 20 years.

“I’m very disappointed,” said Betty Chavis, whose decades of work at Michigan Tech focused on creating support systems there for under-represented students. “Now there’s no place where black students, trans students, international students and others can find comfort, and I think it’s the duty of every university to give comfort to their students.”

Patty Sotirin, retired professor of communications at Michigan Tech, also expressed dismay. “I was integrally involved in the diversity literacy program and the mid-career mentoring program. I co-wrote the ADVANCE Adaptation grant and the ADVANCE Partnership grant (to facilitate female and under-represented STEM faculty success and retention) and was instrumental in implementing our programs. So I’m saddened by the dismantling of these efforts. Tech was a leader in DEI programs like Diversity Literacy, Advocates & Allies and mentoring programs supporting hiring and career development and success for women and historically marginalized faculty. We made real progress.”

The University’s Statement

Why would Michigan Tech take such drastic action? The university is trying to protect its federal funding, a major source of income for Tech. The Trump administration has tied federal funding for colleges and universities to the elimination of diversity programs and initiatives.

A statement issued by the university earlier this month attempted to reaffirm its commitment to supporting all students, including those from under-represented populations. Here’s what it said:

Michigan Tech has worked hard to create a campus environment welcoming to everyone, committed to inclusivity and respectful of each person’s individuality.

This work will continue.

However, as a federal contractor, Michigan Tech is legally obligated to comply with all applicable federal policy. Compliance with federal policy is a condition of our federal contracts, and as such, we are required to implement changes to align with the law. This includes updating policies, procedures and practices where necessary.

To meet the new federal requirements, Center for Diversity and Inclusion staff will transition into new roles within the Waino Wahtera Center for Student Success.

Wahtera Center staff will continue their efforts to create a supportive campus environment dedicated to student success for all.

“The success of every student is embedded in the mission of Student Affairs; it’s what we do,” said Laura Bulleit, vice president for student affairs. “Our new structure allows us to continue this mission and gives us the opportunity to expand our support through enhanced mentorship programs and a more robust structure for student organizations.”

The Office of Engagement and Belonging will sunset. Wayne Gersie will lead the new Office of Community Engagement. As vice president for community engagement, he will play a key leadership role in strengthening institutional partnerships to support innovation, external relations, student success and institutional growth in pursuit of the public good. Areas of focus include educational attainment, economic development and health and quality of life.

A significant portion of this role is dedicated to supporting faculty, staff and students in pursuit of external funding to support these initiatives.

“As I transition into my new role as vice president for community engagement, my commitment to fostering collaborations that support the success of our students, faculty and staff remains steadfast,” said Gersie. “At Michigan Tech, our values, our community and our connections are foundational to all we do. I am confident that the meaningful work carried out by the Engagement and Belonging team as well as our partners in this work will continue to inspire the path ahead. This transition is not about change for the sake of change but about continuity and ensuring that our work evolves in ways that strengthen our shared mission. We remain dedicated to fostering an environment where every member of our campus community feels supported, valued and empowered. We are reaffirming what has always defined us: a culture of excellence, collaboration and innovation. Moving forward, I will focus on cultivating partnerships that create new opportunities for growth while reinforcing the deep, mutually beneficial relationships that advance the University’s mission and leadership in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.”

Services provided through Equal Opportunity Compliance and Title IX at Michigan Tech will continue as dictated by federal law.

“Michigan Tech remains committed to creating an environment where all our students have the opportunity to succeed,” said Rick Koubek, president. “I’d like to recognize the hard work of our faculty and staff in this regard and reiterate our continued commitment to creating a sense of belonging for each and every member of our community.”

What is Really Going On

The university may be attempting to continue its diversity and inclusion efforts without using the words that have been banned by the Trump administration, reflecting recommendations of two people who spoke at the recent Board of Trustees meeting, where the elimination of diversity scholarships was being considered.

“So here’s my simple idea, get some of your hackers, some of your creative people, to think of other ways in which you can call something DEI,” said Alan Salmi, an elderly disabled student.

“You can change the words on these things,” retired university staff member Joan Chadde said. Chadde headed the Center for Science and Environmental Outreach and was herself a past recipient of a diversity incentive award.

Betty Chavis agreed. “I understand that the university has to follow rulings from the feds. I hope that Tech can continue to support minorities and other under-represented students by changing the name of what they do.”

But there are those who have their doubts that diversity and inclusion work can move forward successfully that way.

“The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) at Michigan Technological University (MTU) is greatly saddened by the closing of the Center for Diversity and Inclusion (CDI) and the loss of other support for diversity and inclusion,” said Edgardo Alfaro, vice president of the organization. Members of SHPE gathered at the CDI almost daily, to meet or just hang out, he said. “This action has affected most of our members,” Alfaro went on to say. “Fear about inclusion has always existed; however, now we question if we will be allowed to keep our organization open in the future. Our members are now keeping certain conversations to themselves, preferring to be in private locations where we can open up.”

The SHPE is also concerned about the impact Tech’s actions may have in the broader community and on recruitment of Hispanic students.

“As we have operated in Houghton and the surrounding environment, we have encountered negativity towards our community,” he said. “While it has improved over the years, it still exists, and these changes may lead to the complacency of ignorance. With an already low percentage of Hispanic students, this will only discourage more students from coming to Michigan Tech.”

Keweenaw Pride, an LGBTQ+ student organization, also expressed concern. “Keweenaw Pride has been disheartened to hear about the closure of the CDI and removal of other DEI initiatives,” the organization’s board said. Keweenaw Pride did not meet in the CDI, though some of its members used the center as a safe space.

“Its explicit removal may make students feel less safe and supported,” the board went on to say. “In terms of longer-range effects on the community and future generations, these attacks on our support structures will certainly cause people to hide their true selves and will work to instill a feeling of fear and hostility in the community. We have to fight to ensure it doesn’t stay that way, to make sure we all feel welcome and supported, and that is exactly what we will do.”

The board went on to say: “There are structural changes in other departments to accommodate for changes and stronger support. The Student Leadership and Involvement office is now changing to be more supportive of all registered student organizations. and we are working with them to ensure students can receive adequate help and support.”

No one in the Michigan Tech administration would comment further on the changes. They kept referring the Gazette back to their official statement, quoted above.