University of California Ends Diversity Statements in Faculty Hiring

The decision reflects growing national resistance to DEI policies under federal and financial pressures.

The University of California announced it will no longer require diversity statements in faculty hiring, citing concerns about their impact on applicant evaluation.
UC Provost Katherine S. Newman emphasized that applicants may still reference diversity-related accomplishments voluntarily, but stand-alone statements are now prohibited.
The move follows similar actions by MIT and the University of Michigan, signaling a broader shift in higher education away from DEI mandates.
The Trump administration has pressured universities to scale back DEI policies by threatening federal funding cuts, recently pulling $400 million from Columbia University.
Critics of diversity statements have argued they act as ideological tests, with reports of some UC departments rejecting a majority of applicants solely based on these statements.