A University of Minnesota Senate Committee recommends changes to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion practices at the University, including third-party auditors, in a letter to President Rebecca Cunningham.
The Equity, Access and Diversity Committee said that the University Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX, or EOT, should not be responsible for assessing cases of discrimination, misconduct, nepotism and retaliation because of conflict of interest concerns.
The Feb. 24 letter said that, of the 700 cases reported to the EOT in 2022 and 2023, only 45 investigations occurred. Ten policy violations were found, 1.43% of the total amount.
EOT investigates discrimination cases that are filed directly against the University. The Committee said that because EOT staff are employed by the University, there is a conflict of interest.
“There is a strong financial incentive to do so by conducting investigations and rendering decisions that favor the respondent. EOT staff are not arms-length, neutral, independent, uninterested investigators and adjudicators,” the Equity, Access and Diversity Committee said.
Committee member Stuart Yeh said the Committee is entrusted with the responsibility for creating recommendations regarding DEI.
The Committee highly recommends that the University begin to work with an independent investigator to make sure cases are impartial.
The letter recommends that the University “constitute a pool of investigators and adjudicators from a list of independent investigators and adjudicators established by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.”
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is responsible for enforcing federal anti-discrimination laws and outlines the regulation of anti-discrimination policy.
Yeh said these recommendations should create a fairer system.
“The letter suggested that a process that is seen as fair, neutral, and balanced by all parties may be expected to reduce conflict, promote efficient resolution, and ultimately reduce the total cost incurred by the University of Minnesota to resolve time-consuming cases of discrimination and misconduct,” Yeh said.
The University’s Office for Equity and Diversity said in a statement the office is grateful for the feedback.
“The University of Minnesota remains deeply committed to advancing equity and continuous improvement, regularly reviewing its policies and practices to ensure compliance with federal and state laws and alignment with our institutional values,” the Office for Equity and Diversity said.
The office said that EOT continuously evaluates its process to ensure they are impartial and responsive to the needs of the University community.
“We appreciate the Equity, Access, and Diversity Committee’s engagement with these critical issues and share their dedication to fostering an equitable and inclusive environment at the University of Minnesota,“ the Office for Equity and Diversity said in the statement.
Correction: A previous version of this article listed the name of the Office for Equity and Diversity’s representative for the statement when the statement is from the Office for Equity and Diversity.
