Overview

• Rochelle Hoffman, a former DEI staffer, sued in December 2023 after being named interim director of Multicultural Student Services at UW–Eau Claire.
• Her complaint alleged hostility in the role and cited students questioning whether a white woman should lead an office serving students of color, leading to her resignation after about eight months.
• The university agreed to pay $265,000 to resolve the lawsuit, according to settlement documents.
• The settlement specifies that the payment does not admit liability, with the university denying wrongdoing and seeking to avoid further litigation.
• Hoffman and her attorney said the case sought fair treatment for an employee who supported DEI programs as campus DEI practices face heightened federal scrutiny.