FRANKFORT, Ky. — Leaders from five Kentucky universities took questions Tuesday from state lawmakers in Frankfort over each campus’s diversity, equity and inclusion programs. The discussion comes months after a failed attempt to ban DEI at post-secondary institutions by the Republican-controlled state legislature.

What You Need To Know

  • Members of the state's interim education committee heard from university presidents on diversity, equity and inclusion measures at their schools 

  • University of Louisville, University of Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky University, Murray State, and Western Kentucky University representatives were present

  •  During the 2024 legislative session, Republican lawmakers attempted to ban DEI on college campuses

  • Those attempts failed, it’s likely the subject will be addressed in 2025

“There is no mandatory DEI classes for students at the University of Louisville,” University of Louisville President Kim Schatzel told members of the interim joint committee of education.

Schatzel, along with the presidents of the University of Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky University, Murray State, and Western Kentucky University, presented where their colleges stand on the use of DEI initiatives.

“So we’re here today to find a common approach to a common concern, and that is how we support everyone, regardless of where they from, what they think, who they are,” said University of Kentucky President Dr. Eli Capilouto.

In August, UK eliminated its DEI office. Soon after, Northern Kentucky University followed suit.

The decision by the two universities follows state lawmakers attempted to bar the use of DEI by colleges and universities.

“My question is, since you’re not eliminating any positions, is my understanding, will this just be a rebranding and re shifting and moving to other programs and departments, these kind of concepts,” asked State Rep. Steve Rawlings, R-Burlington.

“Some of the things you’ve talked about may be a subject of inquiry in a classroom, a fair debate, but it’s not going to be part of trainings and things like that,” answered Capilouto.

Minority Caucus Chair State Sen. Reggie Thomas, D-Lexington, believes UK got out ahead of whatever decision lawmakers make concerning DEI, and did what they felt was best. 

“UK wants to create that environment without being told how to do it, what to do it, what not to do. So I think that’s the decision that was made by the University of Kentucky,” Thomas told Spectrum News.

Thomas adds each university is approaching the subject of DEI differently. In a way that is tailored to their specific situation. 

Adding that the discussions about DEI are divisive. 

“There’s a segment of the legislation (sic) that really wants to get rid of diversity, equity and inclusion, to take universities like UK back to the fifties when my grandmother was going there and she was one of only a handful of blacks there and they were basically ignored while they were there,” Thomas said.

Concerns from those opposing DEI measures call them discriminatory and ineffective.

The fight to ban DEI is likely not over. Tuesday’s interim committee meeting signals there could be another bid to address the subject during the 2025 legislative session.

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