A group of Virginia Tech alumni is concerned that future Hokies will not have the same opportunities they had with the Board of Visitors scheduled to vote on a resolution next week to dismantle DEI programs at the Blacksburg campus.
The draft resolution, if approved, would dissolve the university’s Office for Inclusive Strategy and Excellence, among other measures.
A letter, signed by alumni spanning multiple generations and professional fields, will be presented to the BOV and university president prior to the vote on the resolution on March 25.
Removing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs throughout the nation have been one of the directives of President Donald Trump. A letter from the U.S. Department of Education was issued to educational institutions receiving federal funding demanding the removal of DEI, including designated cultural spaces and programming, within 14 days.
That deadline expired more than two weeks ago.
Youngkin: ‘DEI is done’ at UVA
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin has pushed universities to pass resolutions and celebrated those that have already complied.
Youngkin has appointed the majority of members to university boards throughout the state, so it is widely expected the conservative-leaning Virginia Tech board will pass the resolution.
The University of Virginia’s BOV passed an almost identical resolution to the one on the table at Tech on March 7.
“DEI is done at the University of Virginia,” Youngkin said following the vote at UVA. “We stand for the universal truth that everyone is created equal, and opportunity is at the heart of Virginians’ and Americans’ future.”
Alums urge leadership to host a town hall meeting
The signees are urging Virginia Tech to act cautiously in response to the demands of Youngkin and Trump emphasizing the importance of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility and Belonging, or DEIAB initiatives, in fostering a thriving and inclusive campus community.
They also are requesting the university host a town hall meeting, both in-person and virtually, where alumni and other members of the community can engage directly with the administration about the future of DEIAB programs at Virginia Tech.
As of now, there are no opportunities for public comment before the BOV vote on the resolution. It is expected that current students and alums will organize a protest outside of the venue during the board meeting.
The meeting is being held on March 25 at 1:15 p.m. at The Inn at Virginia Tech and Skelton Conference Center at 901 Prices Fork Road in Blacksburg. It will be held in the Latham Ballroom A/B. It was originally to be held on the campus. The meeting will be livestreamed. It is likely the vote will take place on Tuesday as part of the regularly scheduled meeting.
“We are deeply disappointed and concerned about the tactics used to challenge Virginia Tech’s commitment to creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive learning environment,” said Dr. Tekisha Dwan Everette, a 1998 and 2000 alumna of Virginia Tech and a signer of the letter. “We urge Virginia Tech to maintain programs that foster an inclusive environment for all students and consider the long-term impact that eliminating or shifting these programs would have on the educational experience of every student who have benefited from the support and opportunities DEIAB provides.”
Virginia Tech alumni urge BOV to ‘act with courage’
The “Concerned Alumni of Virginia Tech” group said the university’s mission of service, Ut Prosim, That I May Serve, is applicable not just to academics but also to creating a welcoming and inclusive campus environment for all students. Eliminating DEIAB, they argue, would be counter to this mission and would undermine the university’s reputation for diversity and community engagement.
The alumni emphasize in the letter that DEIAB efforts are not just about compliance with federal guidelines but about continuing the work that has made Virginia Tech one of the leading institutions in the country.
The alumni also highlight the historical context of Virginia Tech’s evolution, noting that the university has grown in prominence, achieving R1 status in 1987, due in part to its commitment to diversity and inclusion. They emphasize that DEIAB efforts were not only crucial for fostering a more inclusive academic environment but also contributed to the university’s athletic success, recruitment efforts and overall growth.
The letter writers urge Virginia Tech to “act with courage, be thoughtful and inclusive in its decision-making.”
“We are proud to call Virginia Tech our alma mater, and we want future generations of Hokies to have the same opportunities we had. DEIAB programs are not only valuable—they are essential to ensuring that Virginia Tech remains a place where all students, regardless of their background, have a chance to succeed and make meaningful contributions to society,” the group concluded in their letter.
The letter will be sent to the governor, VT President Timothy Sands, the Board of Visitors and the Alumni Association.
For more information on the letter campaign, contact [email protected]
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Crystal Graham
