The University System of New Hampshire is taking steps to comply with the state’s newly enacted ban on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
Last week, the University of New Hampshire altered its diversity programming by scrubbing the Diversity, Equity, Access and Inclusion page from its website. Nadine Petty, until recently the chief diversity officer at UNH, also underwent a title change. Petty is now the university’s associate vice president for community, civil rights and compliance.
A UNH announcement referred to Petty’s title change as temporary but did not clarify any further details about the future of her title.
Plymouth State University followed UNH’s changes, removing a statement emphasizing its commitment to diversity from its Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility Center’s website as well as a section titled ‘IDEA in the Curriculum.’
Alberto Ramos, formerly the university’s chief diversity officer, was renamed director of the IDEA Center.
In a statement about the changes, a University System representative said, “The IDEA Center mission is to support belonging, success, and empowerment for students and employees across diverse backgrounds and experiences at Plymouth State University and beyond. PSU will continue to conduct comprehensive reviews of programming and websites to ensure compliance with that mandate and federal nondiscrimination law.”
On July 10, Keene State College followed suit, wiping its Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion webpage of DEI related content. A statement on the webpage noted that “selected college webpages have been temporarily taken offline to permit a thorough review of the college’s programs, policies and online materials.”
The college will provide an update on the state of its Office of Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at the beginning of the fall 2025 semester, according to the statement.
This response comes shortly after Gov. Kelly Ayotte signed into law New Hampshire $15.9 billion budget, which prohibited state-funded public universities from promoting any DEI-related policies or programs. The state-level ban follows a series of executive orders President Trump issued earlier this year targeting DEI programs across both public and private institutions.
All public schools must review and submit all contracts containing DEI-related provisions to the New Hampshire Department of Education by September 30. Schools that do not comply risk having their funding withheld.
Public schools and institutions across the state — including all three University System of New Hampshire institutions — have begun implementing safeguards to avoid financial repercussions.
UNH President Elizabeth Chilton said in a newsletter to the the university community that UNH remains committed to fostering an environment of belonging.
“However, the new law requires us to reexamine how we pursue these goals within its parameters,” she said.
Brendilou Armstrong can be reached at barmstrong@cmonitor.com