University of Wisconsin KnowledgeBase : ASM Response to the Sunset of the Division of Diversity, Equity & Educational Achievement

The Associated Students of Madison, a student governance group composed of students from all backgrounds, absolutely opposes the closure of the Division of Diversity, Equity, and Educational Achievement. We stand with DDEEA students, staff, and programs overall.

For nearly two decades, DDEEA has been a principal office on UW-Madison’s campus; demonstrating a steadfast commitment to inclusive excellence, diverse programming, and scholarship. DDEEA has served thousands of students through mentorship, 1-1 advising, tutoring across disciplines, and the provision of opportunity. They have also organized and facilitated integral campus programming, such as UW-Madison's Diversity Forum, which platforms various academics and community leaders dedicated to cultivating a culture of care on our campus.

DDEEA houses various scholarships and programs designed to primarily support students from a range of backgrounds and identities, including populations that have historically been overlooked in the larger context of higher education. Rehousing key support for underserved students into the large umbrella division of Teaching and Learning risks losing sight of the needs of DDEEA program scholars and students.

This decision comes on the heels of a series of actions that hamstring students’ ability to attend UW–Madison: the Board of Regents’ unanimously approved decision to raise undergraduate tuition by 5% as well as the recently passed Wisconsin state budget which includes an indefinite hiring cap for all UW system schools. These decisions, compounded with the elimination of the DDEEA, further add uncertainty, fear, and anxiety to the lives of many UW-Madison students.

As a student governance body, we remain wholeheartedly committed to supporting every student on this campus, regardless of identity or changes in federal administration/local policy. However, this commitment cannot come to fruition without supporting the students who have spent their lives navigating systemic inequality. We will continue to advocate for the needs of students and scholars who were formerly supported by DDEEA as we develop the next appropriate steps in this tumultuous political landscape.