LINCOLN- Last week, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Chancellor Rodney Bennett proposed budget cuts totaling $12 million as part of the NU System's plan to adapt to a projected $58 million budget shortfall. One of the largest of these cuts would eliminate $800,000 from the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and restructure it from a central hub for DEI to a role primarily concerned with supporting university-wide priorities and initiatives.

Marco Baker, UNL's vice chancellor for diversity and inclusion, described the cuts as disappointing. "But, we understand the many external pressures impacting higher education and diversity and inclusion are outside of our control," he said, "Still, ODI will work to discern and reimagine the best strategies and structures possible to preserve and build on the progress we've made thus far."

The Office, created in 2018, worked to promote "inclusive excellence" and uplift the "power of every person," and had a budget of $1.1 million. The proposed cuts would also reduce the combined budgets of ODI, as well as the adjacent Office of Academic Success and Intercultural Services, by more than 46%.

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