Wisc. universities keep DEI positions despite GOP gutting budget by $32 million

University of Wisconsin campus leaders have not cut diversity, equity and inclusion positions from their campuses despite losing $32 million in funding from the GOP-led state legislature earlier this summer in an effort to see such programs axed.

However, system leaders are in the process of requesting a partial reimbursement to the tune of $15 million from the Wisconsin State Assembly’s Joint Finance Committee to fund non-DEI, workforce development-related positions, which state lawmakers left open as an option to recoup some of the cuts.

“As requested by the legislature, we will present a compelling funding proposal to invest in high-demand programs that benefit our workforce so that Wisconsin can compete in the war for talent and move the state forward,” Mark Pitsch, UW System’s director of media relations, said via email to The College Fix.

In early July, Gov. Tony Evers vetoed the Republican attempt to eliminate 188 UW System DEI jobs, but the $32 million in budget cuts remained in the budget, the Cap Times reported.