UVM Mandates DEI Training for All Faculty in Burlington

BURLINGTON, Vt. — The University of Vermont announced a new policy requiring all faculty to undergo diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) training beginning the 2026-2027 academic year, as first reported by Seven Days. The mandate seeks to cultivate inclusive learning environments at UVM's Burlington campus and extension sites, building on the university's Comprehensive Inclusive Excellence Action Plan for 2023-2028. That plan, accessible via UVM's website, emphasizes increasing faculty participation in professional development under Action Strategy Goal 1.5, including comprehensive mentoring and assessment programs.

UVM's push aligns with prior DEI commitments, such as the College of Education and Social Services' 2020-2023 Action Plan, which prioritized annual professional development in Universal Design for Learning principles and inclusive pedagogy for faculty. While not explicitly labeled as mandatory DEI for all faculty in these documents, the new policy expands on mandatory discrimination and harassment training already required for faculty and staff, delivered through UVM Human Resources. The university's Code of Conduct also mandates related ethical standards awareness training by the Office of Compliance & Privacy Services.

Local context underscores the policy's stakes in Vermont, where UVM serves 13,000 students amid state demographics showing 94% white population per recent census data. Critics in Montpelier and beyond question DEI mandates' efficacy, but UVM leaders cite them as essential for retention of underrepresented students, echoing Gund Institute efforts for diverse scholars. Implementation details, including training duration and providers like the National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity, remain forthcoming.