This story is free to read.

UT disbands diversity office, eliminates four positions

UT Diversity Matters coalition member Dana McLemore lays down on the Joe Johnson/John Ward University Mall on Tuesday, April 19, 2016, at the University of Tennessee. The protest comes as the Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday sent to the Senate floor a bill to shift funding from salaries in the University of Tennessee's Office for Diversity and Inclusion on the Knoxville campus into scholarships for minority students in engineering programs. UT Diversity Matters coalition member Dana McLemore lays down on the Joe Johnson/John Ward University Mall on Tuesday, April 19, 2016, at the University of Tennessee. The protest comes as the Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday sent to the Senate floor a bill to shift funding from salaries in the University of Tennessee's Office for Diversity and Inclusion on the Knoxville campus into scholarships for minority students in engineering programs.

By The Knoxville News Sentinel May 23, 2016 1 min read

The University of Tennessee has disbanded its Office for Diversity, including eliminating four staff positions and a $131,365 operating budget.

The $445,000 cut comes after Gov. Bill Haslam allowed a bill passed by the General Assembly that defunded the office to become law without his signature Friday.

The law, which reallocates the money to fund scholarships for minority students in engineering programs, is only in effect for one year.

For the full story check out the Knoxville News Sentinel.