African American, Latino, LGBTQA+ Student Initiatives and more will be dissolved on Northern Kentucky University’s campus, following the legislature’s final approval of Kentucky House Bill 4 (HB 4) on Thursday. 

NKU President Cady Short-Thompson laid out the changes in a campus-wide email on Friday.

HB 4, which sought to eliminate all diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives at public universities in the commonwealth, became law on Thursday. 

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear vetoed the bill after both the House and Senate passed the legislation. The Republican supermajority in the General Assembly voted in turn to override his veto. 

At NKU, most changes to departments and initiatives will take place on May 12, according to the president’s email. 

Of the most significant changes, the Center for Student Inclusiveness will be repurposed as the “Center for Community Connection,” without the presence of African American, Latino or LGBTQIA+ Student Initiatives.

Orientation and mentor groups like NKU R.O.C.K.S. and LAMP will no longer be operated by the university. Short-Thompson encouraged student leaders to continue the work of the groups as student organizations without university support. 

The university will also no longer be able to provide scholarships that consider characteristics like race, color, national origin, sex or religion. What has been known as the “Educational Diversity and Access Scholarship” will be renamed to the “Educational Access and Success Scholarship,” which will not consider any of the aforementioned characteristics. Students who are currently receiving support from the diversity scholarship will have their financial support continued until their scholarship end date with alternatively sourced funding. 

Other changes include:

• The university will not require DEI training.
• Graduation celebrations like Lavender Graduation and SHEREHE will no longer be run by university offices.
• The Inclusive Excellence Council and diversity committees in individual colleges will be dissolved.
  • The council will be repurposed as the “Campus Community Council.”
• Any alumni affinity groups besides the NKU Alumni Council will be dissolved.
• Employee affinity groups will no longer receive university funding or preferential access.
• DEI training will no longer be required, sponsored, or funded by NKU 

The email also provided a list of services and functions that will not be affected by HB 4. This includes academic course content and the activities of students and student organizations. Students remain protected by the First Amendment. 

Short-Thompson offered reassurance and clarification in the email before outlining the changes.

“I want every NKU student to know that there is a place for you and people who care about you on our campus, she wrote.

Any students with questions are directed to reach out to the president’s email for clarification or additional information. This email address is president@nku.edu.