Charlottesville, Va. (Newsradiowrva.com) - The University of Virginia’s (UVA) Board of Visitors voted Friday to “dissolve the college’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) and Community Partnerships,” according to a press release from the governor’s office.
Governor Youngkin applauded the move, calling it a vote for “common sense.”
“DEI is done at the University of Virginia,” Youngkin said in the release. “We stand for the universal truth that everyone is created equal, and opportunity is at the heart of Virginians’ and Americans’ future.”
UVA’s Board of Visitors, which is made up of 17 voting members appointed by Youngkin, voted unanimously in favor of a resolution that would abolish the college’s main DEI office and its Center for Community Partnerships.
Permissible programs that do not conflict with the directives should be transferred to “a new organizational home,” the resolution states. It’s not clear, at this time, what would qualify as "permissible."
The two-page resolution says that "faculty, staff and students doing legally permissible research and activities should proceed as normal."
Friday’s resolution follows Executive Order 14173, titled “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity.” It was signed by President Trump in January 2025. The Board’s decision is seen as aligning with this directive.
