In Washington, college students across the United States are observing significant reductions in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives on campuses, as many institutions retract these programs. Students of color report losing key resources such as campus diversity offices, mentor programs, move-in events, and scholarships, all contributing to a sense of belonging at predominantly white colleges.
The broader impact of these cuts is unfolding as colleges adapt to directives opposing DEI initiatives under former President Donald Trump’s administration. These changes are gradually dismantling the inclusive spaces that many students depended on when accessing higher education.
“It feels retrogressive; I can’t really articulate it any other way,” expressed Breeana-Iris Rosario, a student at the University of Michigan. The university is closing its DEI office and dropping a comprehensive inclusion strategy. “It’s as if our voices are no longer heard,” she added.
Efforts to dismantle DEI policies have been ongoing, with Republican-led states mandating the closure of DEI offices and termination of associated programs at public colleges. This movement gained velocity under Trump’s leadership, marked by threats to withdraw federal funding. The administration put pressure on institutions like Harvard University to conform to federal orders or face the loss of their nonprofit status.
At the University of Michigan, programs like the LEAD Scholars, offering financial aid to Black, Latino, and Native American students, along with specific orientation events, have been targeted. Although the future of these events remains undecided, students like Rosario, who hail from underprivileged backgrounds, are concerned about the loss of community they foster.
In response, a February memorandum from the Education Department instructed educational institutions to avoid using race as a criterion in various administrative decisions, with noncompliance resulting in potential federal funding loss. Numerous universities are currently under investigation, while the Trump administration withholds substantial funds from colleges allegedly violating related orders.
Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland has also been affected, with federal orders prompting the closure of its DEI office. The university plans to replace it with a new Office for Campus Enrichment and Engagement, although specifics are still unclear. Students like Justen Pippens have described the DEI office as a crucial support space for personal and academic mentoring.
Removing events like Envision Weekend, designed to welcome underrepresented students, has made Pippens and his peers, who are a minority at Case, feel the loss of their support network.
In Virginia, the termination of DEI initiatives at the University of Virginia was lauded by Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin, suggesting a shift towards “merit-based opportunities.” Students, however, express concern over diminishing scholarships and programs tailored to minority groups.
The government’s actions against DEI face legal challenges from critics who claim a lack of clarity in the directives, forcing universities to eliminate any programs conceivably linked to DEI. Paulette Granberry Russell, from the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education, notes that opponents to DEI are gaining undue advantages from this ambiguity.
Conservative voices, including strategist Christopher Rufo, urge the federal government to intensify actions against DEI, equating it to a violation of the Civil Rights Act and calling for investigations and financial penalties against non-compliant institutions.
There is concern that rolling back DEI efforts could undermine racial diversity at universities, particularly in states like Michigan, where affirmative action was banned in 2006. The University of Michigan, while ending certain programs, insists on its commitment to supporting students through other means, including broader scholarships for low-income individuals.
Despite receiving assurances from the university about no adverse consequences to their financial aid, students like Rosario worry about the erasure of community-building opportunities for future minority students pursuing higher education.
“Their actions have disrupted our community,” Rosario remarked, emphasizing the increased difficulty for students of color to feel at ease in college environments.