Nearly 400 Colleges and Universities Refuse to Close DEI Offices
A recent report from an education watchdog has found that colleges and universities across the nation are still operating diversity, equity, and inclusion offices and programs, despite President Donald Trump’s executive order demanding an end to DEI initiatives among any organizations that receive federal funding.
Defending Education, the higher education arm of Parents Defending Education, published a report this week detailing how nearly 400 colleges and universities in the U.S. still operate DEI offices and programs. Only 16 colleges and universities have shuttered their DEI initiatives.
According to the report, 242 universities still operate DEI offices or programs, as do 162 schools or colleges. Defending Education also found that 26 universities or colleges have simply “rebranded” or “renamed” their DEI offices and programs, in an apparent effort to avoid detection. Examples of new names used to hide DEI initiatives include “Access,” “Advocacy,” “Belonging,” “Community,” “Compliance,” “Inclusive Excellence,” “Institutional Excellence,” “Resilience,” and “Success.”
The report is “not exhaustive,” but it surveyed colleges and universities in 46 states and the District of Columbia. California had the most schools with DEI programs at 27, followed by New York at 24, Illinois at 17, and Massachusetts at 15. Many universities run multiple DEI initiatives, including offices or programs within specialist or graduate schools. The majority of these projects identified by Defending Education are located within medical schools, nursing schools, and engineering schools.
In comments to The Washington Stand, Family Research Council Senior Fellow for Education Studies Meg Kilgannon said, “It would be naive to think that reforming educational institutions could be accomplished by the stroke of a pen.” She explained, “DEI is rooted in a belief system that is enforced, but more than that, it is accepted and believed. The hearts and minds of people running colleges and universities must change if we want true reform. It will take generations to transform higher education.” Kilgannon added, “Prayer, fasting, and the engagement of Christians in the process is necessary.” (Read more from “Nearly 400 Colleges and Universities Refuse to Close DEI Offices” HERE)
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