Wisconsin state agencies, university system failed to track DEI spending, audit reveals

The University of Wisconsin strategy and respective authorities agencies failed to specifically way spending connected diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, Wisconsin's Legislative Audit Bureau (WLAB) precocious revealed.

The audits covered FY 2023-2024. As a effect of this deficiency of tracking, WLAB, a authorities authorities agency, was forced to estimation what the institutions spent connected these programs.

WLAB stated successful its audit of University of Wisconsin institutions that it estimates the strategy spent $12.5 cardinal connected salaries for employees with occupation titles relating to DEI. Additionally, WLAB estimated the assemblage spent $40.2 cardinal "on offices with duties pertaining to diversity, equity, and inclusion." However, WLAB clarified that not each of those funds were specifically dedicated to DEI.

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The assemblage was already acceptable to standard backmost its DEI efforts aft it made a woody with Republican legislators successful 2023 to bounds DEI-related positions. When the woody was struck, the assemblage had 123 full-time positions to DEI. Auditors recovered that the fig had dropped to 110 by May 2024 and present sits astatine 60.

The University of Wisconsin Law School allegedly hosted a mandatory seminar wherever students were asked to stock radical slurs and instructed connected "colorblindness." (Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

In January, the assemblage removed its main diverseness officer, LaVar Charleston, owed to a "significant lapse successful judgement and fiscal responsibility," Fox 6, a section affiliate, reported. While Charleston was removed from his DEI position, helium remains a subordinate of the university's faculty.

In its audits of authorities agencies, WLAB recovered that 12 agencies spent astir $2.2 cardinal connected salaries for 47 positions pertaining to DEI. WLAB besides estimates 23 agencies spent astir $705,300 connected wage costs for "time spent attending diversity, equity, and inclusion grooming required by Executive Order 59 oregon DOA successful 2023."

The Wisconsin authorities capitol dome successful Madison, Wisconsin. (iStock)

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A situation WLAB noted successful its reports was that some the agencies and the assemblage had overlapping costs, making it hard to cipher precisely what was spent connected DEI programs.

WLAB besides recovered that agencies failed to consistently study to the Department of Administration (DOA) efforts to close noncompliance. However, simultaneously, the DOA did not consistently necessitate the agencies to instrumentality enactment connected specified issues. Additionally, WLAB recovered that "most agencies" did not taxable to DOA each yearly required advancement reports pertaining to DEI from 2021 to 2023.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison has a web leafage dedicated to "Halloween taste awareness," which states that students should debar "racist, crude, oregon culturally insensitive" costumes. (University of Wisconsin)

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The audits were ordered by authorities Republicans who launched a broad reappraisal of spending connected equity programs successful May 2024, according to The Associated Press. This follows comments made by Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos successful precocious 2023 successful which helium vowed to extremity DEI initiatives. The determination aligns with efforts by the Trump medication to get DEI retired of each facets of American life, including higher education.