Syracuse University announced it will shut down its Office of Diversity and Inclusion and replace it with a new “People and Culture” unit housed within the Office of Human Resources. Chancellor Kent Syverud cited a March review assessing the office’s compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, aiming to ensure the university remains “welcoming to all” while conforming with federal law.
The DEI office, established in 2020 amid student-led advocacy, involved Vice President Mary Grace Almandrez and her team, who worked with over 300 stakeholders during the review process, including students, staff, alumni, and families. Teams from the old office, including leadership, will transition into the newly formed People and Culture unit.
According to Syracuse’s student newspaper, The Daily Orange, the new unit will focus on employee engagement, professional development, and community-building efforts within the Student Experience Division and Intercultural Collective.
This move follows mounting federal pressure under the Trump administration, which has prompted many universities—from Syracuse (with over $2 billion in endowment) among more than 130— to restructure or eliminate DEI offices to avoid loss of federal funding.
