Presidents of the University of Louisville, University of Kentucky, Western Kentucky University, Murray State University, and Eastern Kentucky University all spoke before the Interim Joint Committee on Education in Frankfort Tuesday.
The universities also each submitted detailed reports, describing their DEI officers and salaries and explaining the missions of their various offices. The presidents fielded questions about whether they have mandatory DEI training and if they required prospective employees or students to commit to DEI efforts.
University of Louisville President Kim Schatzel defended the university’s Office of Institutional Equity, saying it supports all students collectively to help them succeed at the university. The university reported they will spend just over $4 million dollars on DEI employee salaries this year.
“Equity means no preference, no bias, no discrimination,” Schatzel said. “Institutional Equity, where we feel all is all. No students are left behind.”
Schatzel described a number of programs she had implemented since becoming the university’s president in 2022 , like a center designated for “military-connected students.” When a lawmaker questioned the need for a specific office outside of the federally mandated requirements, Schatzel said she doesn’t want the university to merely be compliant.