Removal of DEI in U.S. Institutions

In recent months, many schools across the country have started reevaluating their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs, and some have even taken steps to remove or reduce DEI initiatives. This started when President Donald Trump had signed  the DEI Order on January 21st and a memorandum removing radical “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” (DEI) from the Foreign Service on March 18, 2025.

Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance mentions how the January 21 DEI Executive Order “instructs the Attorney General and the Secretary of Education to “jointly issue guidance to all State and local educational agencies that receive Federal funds, as well as all institutions of higher education that receive Federal grants or participate in the Federal student loan assistance program under Title IV of the Higher Education Act . . . regarding the measures and practices required to comply with Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College, 600 U.S. 181 (2023),” the Supreme Court decision striking down race-based affirmative action programs in university admissions” (Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance, 2025.) These programs, which are designed to foster an inclusive and diverse environment, are particularly important in supporting minority students, who often face unique challenges. However, the shift away from DEI has raised concerns, especially among senior students applying to colleges. More than one thousand of our nations universities have already shifted away from their DEI programs.

Here are a few universities who have already removed their DEI panels and programs from their institutions:

– University of Pennsylvania: February 14th, UPenn has removed all references to DEI from its offices, websites and policies, as well as the phrase “affirmative action.” Higher Ed Divide mentions “A previous version of the policy said “Diversity is prized at Penn as a central component of its mission and helps create an educational and working environment that best supports the University’s commitment to excellence in teaching, research, and scholarship. The current version does not reference diversity, instead saying: “The University of Pennsylvania’s special character is reflected in the wide variety of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives of the Penn community.” (Spitalniak, 2025.)

– Ohio State University: announced February 27th it will dissolve all DEI offices and programming amid pressure from federal and state lawmakers

– West Virginia University: West Virginia governor Patrick Morrisey announced January 31st they will be closing the current WVU Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. … reported on governor Patrick Morrisey’s statement transcript and that it read “after this executive order, I’m pleased to report that there’s some good news on this front. Today, West Virginia University announced that it was eliminating its Division of DEI. This is a big win for the Mountain State. I want to applaud WVU for the actions that it’s taken. This is really critical. I know there’s always a lot of pressure to do the wrong thing – here is West Virginia, we’re going to do the right thing and we’re going to make sure that West Virginia always stands for freedom, the rule of law, and the American ideal. We’re going to keep going – this is just the beginning of our effort to root out DEI. That’s going to happen more and more in the weeks and months ahead. But I wanted to report this to you, because it’s another win along the way” (VIDEO: Governor Patrick Morrisey’s Statement on WVU Ending DEI Programs, 2025.) 

DEI programs in schools typically focus on creating an environment where students of all backgrounds feel valued and included. These initiatives can involve academic support, cultural awareness programs, and efforts to ensure equal opportunities for all students, regardless of race, gender, or socioeconomic status. As college admissions become more competitive, many universities have placed an emphasis on diversity in their student bodies. DEI programs in high schools play a crucial role in preparing students for these opportunities by providing resources and promoting awareness about the importance of diversity in higher education.

For minority seniors applying to colleges, the removal of DEI could have significant consequences. Many students rely on DEI programs to access scholarships, mentorship, and the academic preparation necessary to be competitive in the college application process. Without these resources, some students may find themselves at a disadvantage compared to their peers. Here are some responses from students impacted by these changes and how they feel:

“It is disappointing” – M.J

“Unfortunately this is predictable due to the state of our country right now” –  Z.B

As DEI initiatives are phased out in some schools, it is important to consider the broader implications for minority students. Many believe that dismantling these programs not only reduces opportunities for students of color but also undermines the effort to make higher education more inclusive for everyone.

Here are some responses from our school’s Director of Inclusion and Belonging, Guadalupe Bobadilla, from an interview about the nation’s current and sudden changes in DEI.

“To me Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion means excellence. Means that all people- all voices are included in these conversations. It opens up the dialogue between different groups, whether it be groups of different races, religions, sexual orientations, abilities, and cultures, to have a better understanding of each other. Especially for that equity piece…. And so if we are not having these conversations, the negative effects is you’re not going to be able to expand your world view or your perspective, or understand where people are coming from. So you’re just going to continue with it the limits of your own perspective and you won’t have that open dialogue.”

“ It is going to be harder for people in marginalized communities or universities now to have an opportunity to engage in these conversations. Or to be in places or spaces to have these conversations and feel accepted. There is going to be this feeling that they are not part of this community, this feeling of not being seen, heard, and not belonging in a community. I think it is highly important to have these policies and programs in place because people will feel more embraced in this community. I believe this will be the negative effects of these new changes, is now the sudden feeling of a lack of acceptance. Some students may begin to feel affected mentally. I think there is going to be some mental health difficulties and issues where people are feeling out of placed and unwelcome in communities. I feel there will be more harm if there is not an opportunity no longer to embrace these programs in communities or have these conversations.”

As new changes to our nation continue, students and educators alike are questioning how best to ensure that all individuals, regardless of their background, have the support they need to achieve their profession and academic dreams.

 

 

Works Cited:

Spitalniak, L. (2025, February 27). A surge of DEI cuts hits colleges across the US. Higher Ed Dive. https://www.highereddive.com/news/surge-dei-cuts-wave-colleges-ohio-state-upenn-iowa/741191/

The Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance. (2025, February 10). President Trump acts to roll back DEI initiatives. https://corpgov.law.harvard.edu/2025/02/10/president-trump-acts-to-roll-back-dei-initiatives/

VIDEO: Governor Patrick Morrisey’s statement on WVU Ending DEI programs. (2025, January 31). WV Office of the Governor Patrick Morrisey. https://governor.wv.gov/article/video-governor-patrick-morriseys-statement-wvu-ending-dei-programs#:~:text=Today%2C%20West%20Virginia%20University%20announced,the%20actions%20that%20it’s%20taken.