JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A regulation approved by the Florida Board of Governors will force the closure of the University of North Florida Office of Diversity and Inclusion, UNF President Moaz Limayem announced in a statement Wednesday night.
Regulation 9.016 prohibits public universities from spending money on anything related to 'Diversity, Equity and Inclusion,' defined as any program/policy that "classifies individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, gender identity, or sexual orientation and promotes differential or preferential treatment of individuals on the basis of such classification."
The regulation also prevents any expenditures for programs that 'engage in political or social activism.'
In order to meet the requirements of this regulation, UNF will have to close all of the centers in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. This includes the Intercultural Center, Interfaith Center, LGBTQ Center and Women's Center.
“The center provided me friends; it provided me education to learn more about my gender and sexual orientation," UNF student, Lissie Morales, said.
Morales organized a protest Wednesday to speak out against state laws defunding DEI on public campuses, specifically the LGBTQ Center.
“In regard to the turnout, it warms my heart to see people care about something as much as I do, especially when it comes to the LGBT T Center. Because it was one of the reasons why I came to UNF in the first place," Morales said.
A couple hundred people attended the protest, including Violet Lester.
“Not just the community center will be missed. But I think that security that students have, and the rights of being themselves and the rights of embracing themselves and having that community that was there, just in case things happened," Lester said.
UNF says that student clubs making up the Student Alliance for Inclusion and Diversity will be allowed to continue as active registered organizations at the university.
No staff members will lose their jobs because of this legislation, UNF said. The staff involved in these programs will be given new jobs at the university with their current salary or above.
Limayem wrote in his statement that UNF "remains committed to ensuring that every member of our campus community is cared for and has the resources needed to be successful."
Programs and a list of resources are offered through the Dean of Students’ Care Services. Also, the Counseling Center and Victim Advocacy Program are among other services available to students, while our Employee Assistance Program is available for faculty and staff.
The full statement from Limayem is as follows:
University of North Florida President Moez Limayem has been named an Ultimate CEO by the Jacksonville Business Journal. Limayem earned the recognition just as he concluded his first year as president of UNF.
“It is an honor to lead this outstanding University,” Limayem said. “This recognition reflects the great work of our entire team at UNF, including our dedicated Board of Trustees and our talented faculty and staff. Every day we are inspired by our amazing students, who are doing incredible work and already making their mark on our community.”
Limayem recognizes the critical role that UNF, the only public university in Jacksonville, plays in the economic prosperity of Northeast Florida, and he has taken swift action to position UNF for the future. He meets regularly with community and business leaders to understand their talent needs and how UNF can continue to innovate to effectively serve the region. In his first year at UNF, Limayem worked with the Florida Legislature to secure funding to strengthen UNF’s foundation and prepare for growth as well as fund two building renovation projects.
Under his direction, the University’s strategic plan has been renewed and includes a bold vision for the future — to grow UNF’s enrollment to 25,000 by 2028 and to rise in prominence in the U.S. News & World Report rankings to a Top 100 Public University. The new plan for 2023-28 was approved by the UNF Board of Trustees in June 2023 and will soon go before the Florida Board of Governors for final approval.
Limayem is committed to a supportive environment where all students, faculty and staff can thrive. Committed to student success from enrollment to employment and beyond, Limayem has increased academic engagement and campus activities aimed at elevating the student experience and boosting retention. He continues to work with industry leaders to ensure the UNF is fulfilling critical talent needs, conducting relevant research and providing an environment for collaboration to strengthen the local economy. This includes jumping in to assist industries in maintaining an educated workforce through new badging and credentialing programs.
Limayem recently received the Sentinel Award from the National Academy of Inventors for his contributions to innovation. Prior to moving to Jacksonville, he was named to the Power 100: Tampa Bay’s Most Influential Business Leaders of 2022 by the Tampa Bay Business Journal recognizing his impact on that region when he served as the Lynn Pippenger Dean of the University of South Florida’s Muma College of Business.