FSU quietly dismantles diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) office
Amid the DeSantis administration’s push to gut diversity, equity and inclusion programs in higher education, Florida State University quietly dismantled its DEI office.
But the university did it mainly by changing title names and reclassifying positions of employees who were already working in DEI to give them different roles — an approach that did not require laying anyone off.
The revelation of FSU’s moves came a few days after the University of Florida in Gainesville very publicly announced that it got rid of its related programs by firing all of its DEI employees.
Compliance of the universities follow Gov. Ron DeSantis’s conservative focus on education, where he signed a measure (SB 266) into law last year to remove DEI programs in the state’s public colleges and universities.
Despite restless concerns from students and faculty members that were voiced through protests on college campuses and public comments during board meetings, the Florida Board of Governors approved a regulation in late January to fall in line with the state law and prohibit spending on DEI.
What DEI-related changes did FSU make?
In August 2023, FSU President Richard McCullough told a group of concerned students who met with him in his office that he was “still waiting for the Board of Governors to know what the exact implementations would look like” regarding the anti-DEI law that DeSantis signed in May.
But while waiting for the board’s official rules that were made final in January, the university began reviewing positions, programs and activities on its campus related to DEI after the 2023 legislative session to prepare for compliance with the Board of Governors’ regulation as it was expected to pass.
While a few positions were affected by the university’s review, no program administrators or employees lost their jobs, according to a university spokesperson. But FSU did confirm that it shut down its Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) Office after being asked by the Tallahassee Democrat.
The Office of Equal Opportunity Compliance and Engagement was activated in October 2023 to replace the former office. Within the former office of the Human Resources department, the university found two positions that were DEI-related — EDI Coordinator and Chief Diversity Officer.
While the coordinating position was vacant before being eliminated, the Chief Diversity Officer position — which was established at FSU since 2020 and mostly includes compliance duties — was being filled by Michelle Brown Douglas, an FSU alumna who joined the university’s Human Resources team in September 2014.
With Douglas’s role and duties being removed last year, the compliance responsibilities of her position that made up 80% of the overall role were expanded, according to an FSU spokesperson.
In addition, a position at FSU formerly titled Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Specialist has been repurposed and renamed as “Compliance Specialist.” The position now focuses on compliance and engagement since DEI duties have been removed.
A few other components of the university’s old EDI unit that have been discontinued include DEIrelated programming and activities, training and expenditures — including a DEI Mini-Grant program, memberships in DEI organizations and subscriptions to DEI publications.
But while expenditures in support of DEI programming and activities at the public colleges and universities across the state are being discontinued, student-directed organizations — including student union agencies such as FSU’s Black Student Union and Jewish Student Union — are allowed to continue functioning on campus.
The board’s regulation states that student-led organizations can still use university facilities to meet and hold activities and events since “such use must be granted to student-led organizations pursuant to written policies or regulations of each state university.”
FSU’s Center for Academic Retention and Enhancement (CARE) program also is protected as the DEI law does not prohibit “access programs for military veterans, Pell Grant recipients, first-generation college students, nontraditional students, ‘2+2’ transfer students from the Florida College System, students from low-income families or students with unique abilities,” according to the board’s 9.016 regulation.
As one of the goals in FSU’s 2023-2027 strategic plan is to commit to inclusive excellence and civil discourse, the President’s Council on Inclusive Excellence and Civility is in charge of continuing efforts toward the goal while the university remains in compliance with the DEI rules.
Has FAMU made any DEI-related changes?
Unlike FSU, Florida A&M University has never had a DEI office, according to a university spokesperson.
Florida saw two separate animal attacks over the weekend, each featuring a large reptilian predator.
Roughly 350 miles apart from each other, one resident saw a rare attack by a crocodile in the Everglades while another was assaulted by an alligator in Central Florida.
What happened in crocodile attack at Everglades National Park?
The National Park Service in a news release said a man swimming at the Flamingo marina in Everglades National Park was attacked by a crocodile on Sunday, March 10.
According to witnesses, the 68-yearold man was pulled underwater. His sailboat capsized in the marina basin and tried to swim to shore with the boat.
The man was treated for a laceration in his leg, the NPS added.
“Rangers and park biologists are continuing to investigate the incident and monitor the suspected crocodile, which is easily identifiable,” read the NPS news release.
What happened in Leesburg’s alligator attack?
A man fishing in a Leesburg retirement community pond was attacked by a 9-foot-3-inch alligator on Sunday. According to witness Sally Priest, she saw the man’s arm in the alligator’s mouth and that the creature was rolling on the bank.
After calling 911, she said the alligator stopped its attack and went back into the water. A large crowd gathered to help the injured man. His hand and part of his arm had been bitten off, she said.
A licensed trapper was called, who captured and killed the alligator. The gator was cut open so the victim’s hand could be retrieved, but the Daily Commercial wrote one of the rescue workers speculated that it could not be reattached.
This is still an ongoing investigation by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
The university’s Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Allyson Watson sent a statement to the Tallahassee Democrat, saying “it’s important to note that diversity, equity and inclusion are not integrated into our programs.”
“We remain steadfast in our dedication to the mission of our institution, prioritizing student success and academic excellence,” Watson said. “Upholding the values and goals that define FAMU, we strive to ensure that each initiative — whether mandated by external regulations or born from our internal aspirations —
How many alligators are in Florida? How many American crocodiles are in Florida?
Florida has about 1.3 million alligators and roughly 2,000 American crocodiles, according to data from the FWC.
How often do alligator and crocodile attacks occur in Florida?
Over the past 10 years, the FWC confirmed that Florida has averaged eight unprovoked alligator bites per year that are serious enough to require professional medical treatment.
The likelihood of a Florida resident being seriously injured during an unprovoked alligator incident in Florida is roughly one in 3.1 million.
As for the crocodiles, Florida doesn’t really have many attacks in its history. According to FWC, conflicts between humans and crocodiles are “extremely rare” in Florida.
When is alligator mating season?
The courtship between alligators begins in early April, while the official mating season occurs during the months of May and June, according to the Florida furthers our mission of fostering intellectual growth, enrichment and the advancement of social mobility.”
At the same time, the university announced in October 2022 that Ella Kiselyuk was named Associate Vice President for Finance and Administration/ Chief of Human Resources & Diversity Officer.
But the university’s employee directory site lists Kiselyuk’s position as “Associate Vice President, Human Resources” and does not include the Chief Diversity Officer part of the title.
It is unclear whether or not the university made the title change on its site recently to comply with the board’s new DEI rules.
“At FAMU, we are aligned with the directives set forth by the Florida Board of Governors regarding diversity, equity and inclusion,” Watson said.
Contact Tarah Jean at tjean@tallahassee.com or follow her on X: @tarahjean_.
Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. That means some will be on the move.
It has been reported by various environmental officials that due to the higher temperatures this spring, mating season has started a little earlier. FWC states that alligators tend to become more active during the warmer months when the temperatures are between 82 and 92 degrees.
When is crocodile mating season?
The American crocodile’s breeding season begins earlier in general, running from mid-February through midApril. Nesting occurs in late April and early May, with soil nests built on land and above high tide marks. Females will lay 20 to 60 eggs that incubate for about 85 days.
What should I do to stay away from an alligator and crocodiles?
The FWC works to keep Floridians and visitors informed and recommends the following precautionary measures near the reptiles, including in or near the water, to reduce the chances of conflicts with alligators and crocodiles:
Never feed an alligator or crocodile. It’s illegal, and you don’t want the gator to start feeling comfortable around humans.
Listen for hissing. While it might not be after you, an alligator may feel threatened if you’re in their territory or approaching their nest and they will hiss to warn you. Avoid piles of twigs, grasses or soil near the side of a lake or river. Avoid any group of alligators under
Contributing reporting: Frank Stanfield, Daily Commercial