A report from a conservative think tank says Virginia's public universities have some of the largest diversity, equity, and inclusion bureaucracies in the nation.

The report from the Heritage Foundation revealed that George Mason University employs at least 69 diversity, equity, and inclusion staff, meaning that the university employs 7.4 DEI staff for every 100 faculty members.

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"The Dangerous DEI Bloat at Virginia’s Public Universities" report builds on a 2021 report from the think tank that sought to quantify the number of employees dedicated to DEI at the colleges that are part of the Power Five athletic conferences. That report tabbed the number of DEI employees at the University of Virginia at 94 and 83 at Virginia Tech.

Using the same analysis as GMU, the previous report's data indicated that UVA has 6.5 DEI employees per 100 faculty, while Virginia Tech has 5.6.

"Diversity and inclusion are nice-sounding words that people might associate with positive activities, like the assimilation of immigrants, welcoming people from different backgrounds, and facilitating mutual understanding," the report's authors Jay Greene and Mike Gonzalez, two Heritage scholars, wrote. "The reality of DEI as it is currently defined is that these activities are functional opposites of traditional definitions."

The latest assessment of George Mason's DEI programs and employment comes as Heritage Foundation Director of Education Policy Lindsey Burke sits on the college's board of visitors. Burke holds a doctorate degree from the university and was appointed to the board by Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R-VA) in 2022.

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The report's conclusion urges Virginia policymakers to rein in diversity, equity, and inclusion departments and notes that George Mason has a reputation as "a right-of-center institution."

"These bloated DEI staffs are wasteful, associated with worse campus climates, and are found at universities that promote radical ideologies," the report authors wrote. "Virginia policymakers must rein in this dangerous DEI expansion."