North Carolina State University professor Stephen Porter is celebrating a win. After years of pushing back, his school has now removed DEI language from its strategic plan.
Porter has taught stats and data analysis to grad students at NC State since 2011. He’s been outspoken against DEI policies for over a decade. He calls himself a "populist Republican."
In February, he filed a complaint. It outlined four violations of UNC System policies—specifically on institutional neutrality and compelled speech.
"The university has now conceded on three out of four counts—but they’re saying as little as possible about it," Porter wrote on his blog.
He didn't expect things to move so quickly. But they did. Two weeks later, the university announced changes.
"I wasn't sure exactly what was going to happen. So I was really, really happy with the final outcome," he said.
The announcement came February 25. The university said it had revised its strategic plan, plus its vision and values statements.
Those revisions, officials said, were made to follow the UNC System's equality policy.