Samford has closed the Office of Student Success and Diversity (OSSD).
For a majority of the semester, the office’s website hosted a message that the page was “under review and revision” while the university reviewed the office’s programming following the arrival of the new Provost and VP of Academic Affairs, Dr. David Cimbora.
This review considered the Guidance for Recipients of Federal Funding Regarding Unlawful Discrimination that was released by the Department of Justice (DOJ) in July of this year.
According to the DOJ’s website, this guidance “clarifies that federal antidiscrimination laws apply to programs or initiatives that involve discriminatory practices, including those labeled as Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (‘DEI’) programs.”
The website for the OSSD used to read that the university “[looked] forward to completing this work and communicating [its] plans early in the fall semester”—now, it simply reads, “This office does not exist.”
“Educators, educational institutions, I think we’re all just trying to do our best to understand what’s happening, to operate within the bounds of the law as we understand it,” said Samford professor and sociology program director Theresa Davidson.
The decision to close the office was made in accordance with and in consideration of this July’s and other recent federal directives, dating back to a Supreme Court decision in 2023 regarding race-based affirmative action in college admissions.
“Samford is committed to ensuring that, in compliance with state and federal law, all programs, activities, and resources are open to all students and employees, irrespective of race, ethnicity, or other legally protected characteristics,” the university shared in an official statement.
Samford is aiming to serve its students while navigating the bounds of the shifting political and legal landscape of recent years.
“Samford is different from other institutions. We have our own mission. But at the same time, Samford, I don’t think, is unique in that we’re trying to understand where we fit and how we do what we want to do in this historical moment,” said Davidson. “I think Samford, for sure, is trying to figure this out and always centering students and the student experience.”
Following the publication of this story, the University’s Marketing and Communications Office requested that the University’s full official statement be published. It is printed below.
“Over the course of the last two years, there have been various developments in the law with respect to diversity initiatives. Following a Supreme Court decision in 2023 concerning college and university admissions, Samford began reviewing university operations to ensure compliance with the law, and that work continued into this year when the federal government issued related directives and guidance, including as recently as July of this year. As a result of the review, the university made a decision to close the Office of Student Success and Diversity. Samford is committed to ensuring that, in compliance with state and federal law, all programs, activities, and resources are open to all students and employees, irrespective of race, ethnicity, or other legally protected characteristics.”
Staff Reporter
