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Survey from merger transition teams sent to students
By Mackala Krichbaum and Pulse Staff
KrichbaumM@Findlay.edu
University of Findlay students received a survey about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion earlier this month from the DEI transition team for the UF and Bluffton University merger.
The timing comes on the heels of recent efforts from U.S. President Donald Trump to make changes at the federal level that affect both public and private colleges and universities. On Jan. 20, Trump signed Executive Order “Ending Radical Government DEI Programs and Preferencing” (the “J20 Order”) which told the Attorney General and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”) to remove such programs and professionals from executive branch agencies.
According to Maria Guarnieri, the UF Coordinator of Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging, this survey has been in the works to allow the students to voice their own thoughts.
“The launch date of Feb. 3 was decided back in December. The main purpose of the survey is to hear the students’ voices,” Guarnieri said. “I feel with the recent discussion of DEI in government, it is even more important for students to complete the survey and express their opinions, thoughts, and ideas.”
The survey included questions about DEI and what students thought about an appropriate name change, as well as their thoughts and opinions about certain leadership positions at the University.
Guarnieri says it’s a good thing if students are discussing the survey.
“This means that students have taken the time to truly read the questions and inquire about completing the survey,” Guarnieri said. “The intention was to provide a few suggestions for students to think outside of the box with words, not just diversity, equity and inclusion. There is a section in the survey for students to list suggestions.”
The same day the UF/Bluffton survey went out, Feb. 3, a group of higher ed officials sued Trump over his anti-DEI efforts. The National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education; American Association of University Professors; Restaurant Opportunities Centers United; Mayor and City Council of Baltimore, Md., sued Trump as the president and 11 other federal agency officials under a “complaint for declaratory and injunctive relief,” basically asking the court to ban the order.
The complaint also references the J20 order as well as an Executive Order Trump signed on Jan. 21 called “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity,” (the “J21 Order”). The suit says “the J21 Order seeks to suppress free speech on diversity, equity, and inclusion (“DEI”), or diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (“DEIA”) principles.”
The UF/Bluffton merger DEI transition team is co-led by Brandi Laurita, UF Vice President for Student Affairs and Athletics, and Phillip Talavinia, BU Vice President of Student Affairs and Athletics. Other UF members of the team include Guarnieri and Robin K. Walters-Powell, Ed.D., UF professor of social work, program director of social work, and chair of the social work and healthcare services department. Bluffton members of the team include Leslie Beasley-White, assistant director of diversity, equity and inclusion; Chad Shutler, assistant professor of health, fitness, and sports science; and Laurel Neufeld Weaver, assistant professor of social work.
The survey email sent to students said:
“The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Transition Team has been meeting regularly to learn about processes and programming needs on the University of Findlay and Bluffton campuses. As we move forward in this endeavor, it is important for us to gain feedback from students at both institutions. You, the student, have the most powerful voice on campus. We want your creative ideas!
This short anonymous survey gathers information about your campus involvement, attitudes toward inclusivity on campus, how you define diversity, as well as your suggestions and recommendations for creating a welcoming campus environment.
With the constant changing views of diversity and inclusion efforts, we want to insure we are meeting your expectations. The survey responses will help us gauge and improve our efforts to celebrate and support you, the student body.”
