In recent decades, American universities have expanded their diversity programs to address concerns about the underrepresentation of minority groups on campus.
However, in recent years, a number of Republican-led states have taken steps to limit or eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and initiatives at public universities, and conservative lawmakers and organizations are They argue that such programs can be discriminatory. left behind. But supporters of these efforts say they are necessary to promote diversity and help students from different backgrounds succeed on campus.
Opposition to diversity programs comes at a difficult time for some universities, as they face a lack of admitted students and skepticism about the value of college degrees at today's prices. And some educators are even more concerned about campus diversity after the Supreme Court last year banned race-based admissions.
Here's what you need to know about efforts to limit DEI programs in higher education.
what exactly is DEI in higher education?
In general, DEI efforts at universities include programs, campus activities and events, curriculum, recruitment, admissions, and programs focused on promoting and increasing the representation and participation of individuals from historically underrepresented groups. and policies.
These groups may be based on race, ethnicity, national origin, gender and gender identity, age, culture, religion, disability status, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, and other aspects of a person's social identity. there is.
Some schools require prospective students and faculty to include a diversity statement on their applications. This means a written commitment that explains how you will contribute to promoting diversity on campus.
Many universities consider these efforts a priority in recruiting and retaining diverse faculty and students. On campuses across the country, schools often offer resources tailored to groups of students based on race, gender, or other identities.
These initiatives typically apply to broader functions such as recruitment and admissions, student cultural centers and workshops.
What are critics and supporters of DEI programs saying?
University diversity programs have become increasingly controversial as they play a powerful role in academics and student life.
Supporters of the efforts say they are a good way to promote inclusion, recruit and retain people of color, and repair decades of exclusionary policies. They also claim the initiative will help students from all backgrounds succeed. Many university officials feel he needs a DEI office to do that.
In 2021, the nonprofit American Council on Education said, “Diversity is linked to a variety of outcomes, including greater racial and cultural awareness, stronger critical thinking, higher levels of community service, and a more educated population. It offers many educational benefits.”
But critics say DEI efforts discriminate against people who may be left behind in efforts to increase representation of other groups, promote left-wing ideas about gender and race, and promote ideas. They criticize it as a tool that suppresses free discussion. Many conservatives also question the cost of running such programs, the so-called DEI bureaucracy.
One prominent critic of DEI programs is billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman. In a January post on Platform X, he called the movement “racist, because reverse racism is racism.”
Which states have anti-DEI laws, and what do they say?
According to the Chronicle of Higher Education, 84 bills targeting diversity programs have been introduced across the country since 2023. Of these, 12 have become law and 13 are awaiting the governor's signature.
Some of these laws aim to completely eliminate DEI programs and offices at public universities and colleges, while others limit diversity training and identity-based priorities in hiring and admissions. There is also. Some target diversity statements within the application. And many countries prohibit her from using state funds for DEI.
In 2023, Florida became one of the first states to enact legislation restricting DEI efforts. The law largely prohibited the state's public universities from spending money on DEI initiatives and placed limits on how educators can discuss discrimination in required courses. Tenure protections were also weakened.
Texas, North Carolina, and North Dakota passed similar laws later that year.
States such as Idaho, Utah, Wyoming and Alabama have passed such laws this year, many of which are scheduled to go into effect on July 1st.
Alabama's law not only prohibits funding for DEI programs at public universities, but also restricts the teaching of “divisive concepts.” The bill defines this in part as assigning “fault, responsibility, or prejudice” to race, religion, sex, or national origin. .
A bill restricting DEI efforts in Kansas passed Friday after Gov. Laura Kelly allowed it to become law without her signature. The Democratic governor's move overrode a veto of a similar bill last year.
The new law prohibits state universities, community colleges, and technical schools from tying an applicant's admission, hiring, or financial aid award to a position on a “political ideology or movement.” It also prohibits these schools from requiring applicants to submit pledges or statements about promoting diversity.
How did these laws impact campuses?
The new law had a wide-ranging impact on universities.
The University of Florida eliminated all DEI-related positions, closed the office of the chief diversity officer, and suspended all DEI contracts with outside vendors. The school announced that 13 full-time positions have been eliminated, along with the appointment of 15 faculty and staff administrators. The University of North Florida and Florida International University have also eliminated their DEI programs.
At the University of Texas at Austin, the Center for Multicultural Collaboration will close and about 60 administrators have been told they will lose their jobs, according to the state branch of the NAACP and the American Association of University Professors. Some campuses in Texas have closed their LGBTQ centers.
But even in states with DEI crackdowns, other schools have had a more moderate response. In an effort to circumvent these laws, some university officials are reintroducing DEI offices with different names and rewriting requirements to remove words like “diversity” and “equity.” In some cases, only the words have changed.
