Northern Kentucky University agreed to pay more than $150,000 to former Chief Diversity Officer Darryl Peal in agreement with his resignation from the university.
Through a request of open records, The Northerner obtained the separation agreement between Peal and the university. The entire agreement can be found at the end of this article.
It shows both parties decided Peal’s last day of employment would be Aug. 28. The parties acknowledged this separation “is a mutual decision of both the university and employee.”
NKU will pay $13,068.13 to Peal each month, beginning on Aug. 29, 2024 and continuing through Aug. 31, 2025. If Peal finds full-time employment prior to August 2025, he is required to notify the university’s chief human resources officer, and he will no longer receive payments.
The university also agreed to provide “outplacement services” to Peal. Outplacement services are meant to help with career transitions for employees who have resigned or been let go, which might include career coaching or job search advice.
In accordance with the agreement, Peal is held to confidentiality and “shall not discuss with anyone the existence of this agreement or the negotiations or discussions that resulted in this agreement.”
Both Peal and NKU President Cady Short-Thompson signed and dated the agreement on Aug. 28, 2024.
One day later on Aug. 29, Short-Thompson sent an email to the campus community, discussing Peal’s departure.
In the email, Short-Thompson wrote that Peal made the decision to step down effective immediately, and as such, she “decided to dissolve the Office of Inclusive Excellence.”
This decision came a week after the University of Kentucky made a similar move to disband its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) offices.
NKU’s campus community responded to the decision to dissolve the Office of Inclusive Excellence on social media, commenting 81 times on The Northerner’s Instagram:
Both Short-Thompson and UK President Eli Capilouto have referenced Kentucky legislation as their primary reason for disbanding the office(s).
Earlier in the year, legislation which sought to dismantle DEI services, diversity training and more was introduced in Kentucky. While the legislation ultimately did not pass, the leaders believe similar bills will resurface next year. In a recent interview with Kentucky Educational Television, Short-Thompson said she felt confident this legislation will return and will likely pass.
Short-Thompson sought to reassure the campus community of what services will still be available following Peal’s departure. On Sept. 3, she sent a mass email detailing that the Center for Student Inclusiveness, Title IX, the Center for Global Engagement and International Affairs and more will be unaffected.
“Our commitment to student access, engagement, belonging and success is the same; it is unwavering,” the president wrote.
Following a request from The Northerner to speak with Short-Thompson or any other administrator regarding the closure of the Office of Inclusive Excellence, a university spokesperson responded that the president is not “doing interviews on this topic.”
The Northerner will continue reporting on this decision and will provide updates as they become available.