Following President Trump’s executive order in January to remove diversity, equity and inclusion from federal agencies, terminology like “equal opportunity” and “advocacy” have been removed from federal websites. In addition to threatening funding if these programs were not removed from schools, the White House’s erasure of DEI terminology creates a stigma that schools cannot ignore.
But the White House’s interpretation of university DEI programs may differ from what those projects actually offer to students.
“These initiatives have a direct impact on student success, meaning retention and student engagement,” said Tania Abouzeide, a lecturer for the University of Miami. “Universities may have different definitions of success; that may be good retention numbers or high graduation rates.”
Harvard University received a $2.2 billion funding freeze following the university president’s letter to professors and students. In the missive sent last week, the president stated that Harvard “will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights” and “will not accept the government’s terms as an agreement in principle.”
