The University of Wyoming is preparing its instructors to comply with a new state law targeting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). That law will take effect before UW students return in the fall.
It prohibits university instructors from teaching that one racial, religious or other demographic group is inherently inferior to any other.
The bill's sponsors aimed to rein in what they called biased university instruction. But at an informational session on May 8, Interim Provost Scott Turpen told professors and other faculty that the new law does not change university policy.
"The question is: Can we still use the textbooks and the readings? And the answer is yes," Turpen said. "There's no restrictions on subject matter or what you teach in the classroom. We just allow other voices to be heard and that there can be an open discussion."
The law forbids instructors from "promoting" what it defines as "institutional discrimination." According to the law, that includes instruction that advocates for one demographic group over another, teaches that individual members of certain demographic groups should feel guilty about the actions of other members of their group, or teaches that the concept of meritocracy is racist.
An unidentified instructor attending the session said the new law is based on a misunderstanding of what's actually being taught in classes about structural inequalities. He said those classes target historical forces, not individuals or demographic groups.
In its first official response to the law's passage, UW said its instructors already pursue inquiry and not advocacy and that the institution is committed to academic freedom, or the ability of instructors to teach according to the standards of their discipline.
Turpen reiterated this position Thursday at the informational session.
"Instructors remain able to continue to teach on all subjects, so that's good news," he said. "However, there are some things not allowable based on the statute's definition of institutional discrimination. And they include a personal opinion without openness to disagreement or conversation, the inclusion of content that is not established or emerging standards within a discipline or the inclusion of content that is not in line with the subject of the class."
The serving provost said instructors already largely adhere to these standards.
"It's also important to note the potential practices identified within the statute are not pervasive at UW," he said. "While there may be a rare situation that involves improper instruction that falls in line with advocacy, those situations are rare and then thoughtfully addressed."
The bill does not outline penalties for instructors who refuse to comply. The university already has a complaint system students can use if they are concerned about the content being taught in their class. That process exists on a case-by-case basis and UW officials said they will work over the summer to formalize that process.
During the session, other instructors raised concerns about motivated students filing frivolous complaints, or students who misunderstand the course material filing complaints based on what they mistakenly think is being taught. One instructor worried in the meeting’s Zoom chat that they, as someone who teaches "contentious topics," could soon be spending all of their time "defending against complaints."
Turpen said complaints follow a standard process that begins with discussion.
"I've dealt with some of these things, both as a department chair and as a dean," he said. "Oftentimes, there can be a conversation between a faculty member and a student to be able to deal with this … it's a healthy conversation back and forth. And in most cases, it doesn't come up again."
But if that conversation fails to resolve the matter, it can be escalated, Turpen said.
"Sometimes it rises to a chair and a faculty member. Sometimes that rises to the level of the dean and the conversation continues at that level," he said. "If it's something that's habitual … where a faculty member is repeatedly going out of their way not to follow university policy, there can be formal reprimands."
The law goes into effect July 1. UW has published an FAQ for the campus community detailing the new law.
