DEI Rollbacks: A Blow to Black Students
By Darius Spearman (africanelements)
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The Dismantling of DEI
The University of Memphis recently closed its Office of Multicultural Affairs, marking a significant step in the rollback of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives in higher education (newsone.com). This action came swiftly after university president Bill Hardgrave announced the phasing out of DEI programs. The closure of the office is just the beginning; the university plans to remove all references to DEI from its website and official documents (newsone.com). Furthermore, scholarships designed to increase diversity will be adjusted (newsone.com).
This decision by the University of Memphis directly results from a new Tennessee state law, Public Chapter 458, also known as the “Dismantling DEI Departments Act” (newsone.com). This law prohibits public institutions of higher education in Tennessee from maintaining, authorizing, or supporting programs that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion (newsone.com). The university stated that while it does not discriminate, the law requires a reevaluation of operations to ensure compliance with how it supports students, non-academic programs, and some academic support programs (newsone.com).
Understanding DEI
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives generally involve efforts to recruit and retain students and staff from marginalized communities (chronicle.com). These initiatives also include providing training programs and offering support through offices and centers focused on various identity groups (chronicle.com). The dismantling of DEI often involves the elimination of these offices, programs, and related staff positions (chronicle.com). For example, the closure of LGBTQ+ centers and the relocation of Black student unions are direct consequences of this dismantling (chronicle.com).
DEI efforts have historically included training programs, which have now been made optional or stopped in some institutions (chronicle.com). These initiatives also encompass jobs, hiring practices, and programs explicitly designed to recruit and retain students and staff from marginalized communities (chronicle.com). Universities have been eliminating DEI offices, diversity programs, and identity-based preferences as part of these rollbacks (chronicle.com).
What is DEI?
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI): These initiatives aim to create a welcoming environment for all individuals, particularly those from underrepresented groups. They focus on increasing representation, ensuring fair treatment, and fostering a sense of belonging within institutions. DEI efforts often include specialized offices, programs, and support services for various identity groups.
Impact on Black Students
The Office of Multicultural Affairs at the University of Memphis was a vital space for the university's Black students (newsone.com). Students of color expressed deep sadness and disappointment over the closure. They noted that the office provided a crucial sense of community and belonging, especially for Black students on campus (newsone.com). For many, it was a place where they could feel seen and supported.
The closure represents a significant setback for the University of Memphis's Black student population (newsone.com). Demographic data from the university revealed that 37% of its students are white and 34% are Black (newsone.com). In contrast, the city of Memphis is 25% white and 61% Black (newsone.com). This disparity indicates that DEI initiatives were working to make the student body more reflective of the city's demographics (newsone.com). The removal of these programs could reverse the progress made in creating a more inclusive and representative campus environment.
A Widespread Trend
The rollback of DEI initiatives is not isolated to Tennessee; it is a widespread trend across U.S. colleges and universities (usnews.com). This trend is driven by state legislation and federal pressure (usnews.com). Since January 2023, at least 116 college campuses have altered or eliminated offices, jobs, hiring practices, and programs related to DEI (chronicle.com). These changes have impacted over four million students nationwide (chronicle.com).
Students of color report losing campus mentors, move-in events, scholarships, and diversity offices that provided crucial support on predominantly white campuses (usnews.com). The National Education Association, the nation's largest teacher's union, has stated that actions to eliminate DEI programs will “harm students and public education” (capitalbnews.org). Similar initiatives from Republican legislatures and university school boards are targeting DEI on college campuses across the country (wvtm13.com).
States with DEI Legislation or Actions
Specific Examples of Dismantling
The impact of anti-DEI legislation is evident in various states. In Alabama, Senate Bill 129, signed by Governor Kay Ivey in March, bans DEI offices, diversity programs, and identity-based preferences (chronicle.com). This law also prevents institutions from forcing students and employees to agree with certain “divisive concepts” (chronicle.com). This law is set to take effect on October 1, 2024 (chronicle.com).
The University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa has already taken significant steps. It closed its Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, as well as its LGBTQ+ center (Safe Zone) (chronicle.com). The Black Student Union was also required to relocate (chronicle.com). Furthermore, the university replaced its “DEI Passport Program” with the “Capstone Wellness Program” (chronicle.com). Similarly, the University of Florida in Gainesville eliminated its diversity and inclusion offices, resulting in the layoff of 13 staff members and the removal of appointments for 15 faculty members (wvtm13.com).
Even long-standing student organizations are affected. A decades-old Black student organization at the University of Missouri was forced to remove explicit references to race from its traditions (wvtm13.com). Faculty at the University of North Carolina's flagship school have expressed apprehension about recent changes to diversity policy and their implications for curriculum and future students (wvtm13.com). While public institutions are primarily targeted by state laws, even private universities like Duke University and Wake Forest University are reviewing their diversity policies and adopting new approaches to “inclusive excellence” in response to federal directives and state influence (theassemblync.com).
Defining “Divisive Concepts” and Identity-Based Programs
Alabama's Senate Bill 129 prohibits forcing students and employees to agree with certain “divisive concepts” (chronicle.com). However, the specific definition or examples of what constitutes these “divisive concepts” under the law are not explicitly provided (chronicle.com). This lack of clarity can create uncertainty about what content or teachings are targeted by the legislation.
Anti-DEI laws often target programs based on identity. In Alabama, DEI is defined to include classes, training, programs, and events where attendance is based on a person’s race, sex, gender identity, ethnicity, national origin, or sexual orientation (wvtm13.com). This indicates that “identity-based programs” are those specifically designed for or focused on particular identity groups, such as LGBTQ+ centers and Black student unions (chronicle.com). The distinction is primarily shown through the types of programs and centers that have been closed or altered (highereddive.com).
Student Resistance and Alternative Approaches
Despite the widespread rollbacks, students are actively protesting and organizing to preserve DEI initiatives on college campuses (capitalbnews.org). Students at the University of Louisville are planning demonstrations, lobbying legislators, and engaging in civil disobedience to fight against anti-DEI efforts (capitalbnews.org). These student activists view their efforts as a direct response to attacks on DEI programs (capitalbnews.org).
As DEI offices close, the question arises whether universities are creating alternative support mechanisms for marginalized students or if gaps are left unaddressed. While some universities are closing DEI offices and programs, there is limited information about the creation of comprehensive alternative support structures (chronicle.com). For instance, the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa closed its Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion but opened a Division of Opportunities, Connections, and Success to focus on students facing “educational access and achievement challenges” (chronicle.com). Similarly, the University of Alabama's student government replaced the “DEI Passport Program” with the “Capstone Wellness Program” (chronicle.com). These examples suggest a shift in focus, but it is not broadly clear if comprehensive alternatives are being established to fully replace the support previously offered by DEI initiatives.
Impact of DEI Rollbacks
The Broader Context
The timeline of DEI rollbacks indicates that these actions have been ongoing since at least January 2023 (chronicle.com). While specific effective dates exist for some state laws, such as Alabama's Senate Bill 129 taking effect on October 1, 2024 (chronicle.com), a comprehensive timeline detailing the overall pace or future planned actions across all affected institutions is not available. The focus remains on the immediate closures and program eliminations rather than long-term consequences for faculty hiring, curriculum development, or institutional diversity metrics.
The impact on students of color losing support systems is evident through the closure of LGBTQ+ centers and the relocation of Black student unions (chronicle.com). For example, the University of North Florida shut down its diversity and inclusion office, along with its intercultural and interfaith centers and those focused on women and LGBTQ people (highereddive.com). Most of Utah’s public universities also closed LGBTQ+ and multicultural centers, even though the state's anti-DEI law allowed exceptions for cultural centers (insidehighered.com). These actions highlight the direct loss of resources for marginalized students.
Unanswered Questions and Future Outlook
There are still many unanswered questions regarding the full impact of these DEI rollbacks. The provided information does not detail how these changes affect student outcomes, mental health, retention, or the overall campus climate. Furthermore, there is no information about adjustments to scholarships aimed at increasing diversity, nor are there specifics on how these changes affect eligibility and student demographics.
The extent of legal or political challenges to these anti-DEI laws by universities, students, or advocacy groups is also not clear. While student protests are mentioned, the broader responses from faculty, administration, alumni, or community stakeholders are not detailed. The long-term consequences for faculty hiring, curriculum development, or institutional diversity metrics also remain largely unexplored. The distinction between how DEI rollbacks differ between public and private institutions, both legally and operationally, is not explicitly clarified. As these changes continue to unfold, the full scope of their impact on higher education and the students it serves will become more apparent.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Darius Spearman has been a professor of Black Studies at San Diego City College since 2007. He is the author of several books, including Between The Color Lines: A History of African Americans on the California Frontier Through 1890. You can visit Darius online at africanelements.org.
