Delegate Jason Ballard
Virginia General Assembly
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies are on their way out at two of Virginia’s major universities. Last week, the University of Virginia Board of Visitors voted to end all DEI programs at the school, while their counterparts at the Virginia Military Institute declined to renew the contract of a superintendent hired to bring DEI into the school.
On Mar. 7, the University of Virginia Board of Visitors voted to dissolve and discontinue the school’s DEI program and departments. The school spent somewhere between $6 million and $20 million each year on such programs. The move brings UVA into compliance with federal law, which bans discrimination on the basis of race, sex, or religion. President Donald Trump has issued a number of Executive Orders designed to bring about similar results throughout the federal government.
“DEI is done at UVA,” Governor Youngkin said in a statement Friday. “Today, the University of Virginia Board of Visitors voted for common sense, saying NO to illegal discrimination and YES to merit-based opportunity. Students at Mr. Jefferson’s University – and across America – deserve unlimited intellectual freedom, not ideological gatekeeping.”
DEI is also at the heart of the fight at the Virginia Military Institute, where the sitting superintendent’s contract was not renewed. The conflict began not long after former Governor Northam’s yearbook picture scandal, when Northam acted beyond his authority to fire the sitting superintendent. Members of the Board of Visitors appointed by Northam then appointed the current (and soon to be former) superintendent with an eye toward implementing DEI policies throughout the school. Now, the board is under the control of Youngkin appointees and has decided to reverse course.
The bottom line is this: Virginia’s universities should aspire to excellence-driven, merit-based success. The actions recently taken at UVA and VMI ensure that will be the case, and I hope other institutions of higher learning will soon follow suit. The playing field should be even for all, and programs that have a singular focus on the color of your skin, who you marry, or other predetermined criteria versus what you can contribute to a school, business, or our broader economy should be critically examined. I am happy to see this starting to take place in the Commonwealth.
As the Delegate representing the 42nd House District in the Virginia General Assembly, your concerns are my greatest priority. If ever I may be of assistance to you and your family, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at DelJBallard@House.Virginia.Gov. You can also follow me on Twitter @JasonBallardVA or like my Facebook page, Jason Ballard for Delegate, to keep up to date with what I am doing in Richmond and in our community on your behalf.
