A proposed DEI policy at California State University Dominguez Hills could restrict academic freedom and First Amendment rights, according to a free speech group.
The policy, proposed by the university’s business and public policy school, will require the professors to include diversity, equity, and inclusion into the syllabus and lecture material.
The university is promoting DEI within its campus because it seeks to create an atmosphere of “belonging, diversity, equity, inclusion, inclusive climate, and social justice,” according to the proposed new DEI policy.
CSU Dominguez Hills’ proposed policy states that it will incorporate “evidence of equity-minded language presented in course syllabi.”
The new policy would survey courses to ensure class discussions “draw on gender, racial, and ethnic minority scholars’ work as well as the lived experiences of Indigenous, and People of Color populations” and that “equity-minded grading policies” are being used.
However, these policies could go against the faculty’s First Amendment rights by “explicitly rewarding such participation – and penalizing its absence,’’ according to the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression.
“FIRE is concerned that the proposed DEI policy requires faculty to affirm certain viewpoints and implement DEI materials into their teaching that they otherwise would not have,” Program Officer Sabrina Conza told The College Fix via email. “These risk facultys’ academic freedom and freedom of conscience, in violation of the university’s First Amendment obligations.”
