Northern Michigan University navigates changes in DEI policies post-federal orders

MARQUETTE, Mich. (WLUC) - Northern Michigan University is reviewing its diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in response to executive orders issued by President Donald Trump.

Months ago, President Trump signed an executive order to eliminate what he described as radical and wasteful DEI programs.

DEI programs are designed to promote diversity and prevent discrimination based on race, sex and other protected characteristics.​

While NMU fully complies with federal executive orders, University President Brock Tessman stressed that NMU will always accept students of every race and sexual orientation.

Tessman explained that after a lengthy audit process, only three changes will be implemented at this time.

“Our Office of Diversity and Inclusion is transforming into the Office of Opportunity, Empowerment, and People,” Tessman said. “There are a couple of areas in which we are changing our strategic plan to reflect our work better today, and then some donor-funded scholarships, basically privately funded scholarships.”

Tessman says professors are not being fired as part of the plan, but some people’s position titles will change.

Since President Trump announced this order, many government departments, universities, and businesses have removed DEI.

During NMU’s annual forum, students in attendance said they were worried about receiving negative, racial and homophobic remarks from other students.

Tessman says NMU is making sure everyone is respected.

“The importance of having boundaries is important, and if freedom of speech crosses that boundary, it turns into a direct incitement to violence or a particular threat to an individual,” Tessman said. “If what a student is doing damages the learning environment for our students, then it becomes not freedom of speech, it becomes an issue for the university.”

During the audit for the executive order, parts of the university were evaluated and put into a category.

Red areas need immediate action, yellow regions need to be addressed later and green areas need no action.

Someone in the crowd was concerned about a university center in the yellow category.

“It makes me wonder why the Center for Native American Studies is in the yellow category. You put all the academic departments in the green category to protect them, but stuff like the center is in the yellow; it seems like it’s targeted,” they said.

Tessman says today was just a day to give an update and listen to the community’s reaction.

“It’s just about the changes that we have decided to make or recommend to our board of trustees, and we could have more things we are talking about down the road than our current reality,” Tessman explained.

Tessman is leaving the university in July to pursue a new job in Montana. He says some changes are being implemented now, and future changes will need board action in May.

Tessman says regardless of the outcome, he and NMU are focused on doing what’s best for all students and staff.