Colleges are making big changes to their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in 2025, with some scaling back or rebranding and others shifting focus to economic diversity, first-generation student support, and free speech policies.
These shifts stem from new federal policies, legal battles, and ongoing debates over whether DEI fosters inclusion or reinforces division. For students and families, this means adjusting to a rapidly changing college admissions landscape.
The article breaks down recent developments – and offers key takeaways to help students and families navigate these changes.
Recent Developments in College DEI Initiatives
Here’s a summary of recent articles about the sweeping changes to college DEI efforts.
1. Legal Challenges Are Reshaping DEI in Higher Ed
Colleges are facing tighter restrictions on how they consider race in admissions, hiring, and scholarships. The Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights has ruled that any race-based considerations are illegal, going beyond the Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling against affirmative action.
In response, universities are restructuring their diversity efforts — some are keeping their programs but shifting the focus to economic and first-generation student support. Others are eliminating or renaming DEI offices to comply with new laws.
Source: The Atlantic
2. The Federal Government Has Cut DEI Programs
The U.S. Department of Education has taken down DEI-related materials from its website and placed federal employees working on DEI initiatives on leave. These actions align with President Trump’s push to eliminate what he calls “race-based discrimination” in government agencies.
Critics say the administration is dismantling programs that promote inclusion, while supporters argue it’s restoring neutral, merit-based policies.
Source: U.S. Department of Education
3. Universities Are Rebranding DEI to Keep It Alive
Instead of shutting down DEI efforts, some colleges are rebranding them under different names to maintain diversity initiatives without triggering political backlash. Rice University, for example, renamed its DEI office the “Office of Access and Institutional Excellence,” broadening its scope to focus on student success rather than explicitly racial or gender-based programs.
Source: Houston Chronicle
4. Business Schools Are Dropping “Diversity” from Accreditation Rules
The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), which accredits many top business schools, has quietly removed references to diversity and inclusion from its accreditation standards.
While some see this as a rollback of progress, others say it allows business schools to focus on “community and connection” rather than politically sensitive DEI frameworks.
Source: Financial Times
5. Graduation Events for Minority Students Are Being Renamed
Some universities are renaming their cultural graduation celebrations to comply with new policies. Arizona State University and the University of Arizona no longer call them “convocations” but “celebrations” instead.
The name change aligns with federal guidelines, but the events themselves remain largely unchanged, leading some to question whether these efforts are symbolic or substantive.
Source: Axios
6. DEI and Free Speech Policies Are Colliding
As DEI programs change, universities are re-examining their policies on speech and activism. Some schools, such as the University of Florida and the University of North Carolina, have passed rules that ban mandatory diversity training and promote viewpoint diversity instead.
Critics say these changes limit conversations about race and inclusion, while supporters see them as expanding free expression and preventing ideological conformity.
Source: Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE)
7. The Conservative Argument Against DEI
The rollback of DEI programs has reignited debates over whether these programs promote fairness or create new forms of discrimination. Critics argue that DEI replaces meritocracy with identity-based decision-making, and some blame DEI for corporate failures like Silicon Valley Bank.
Supporters push back, arguing that diverse institutions perform better and that these policies help correct long-standing inequities. Trump’s executive orders have made it harder for companies to promote DEI, leaving the future of such programs uncertain.
Source: The Guardian
8. What Comes After the DEI Backlash?
With traditional DEI programs under scrutiny, some colleges are exploring new ways to foster inclusion. A recent Vox article, What Comes After the DEI Backlash?, explains that while some schools are eliminating DEI altogether, others are shifting focus to:
- Economic diversity & first-generation student support (University of Michigan, Yale)
- Broad-based community-building efforts (various private institutions)
- Free speech & viewpoint diversity (University of Florida, UNC)
Source: Vox
What This Means for Students and Families
If you’re applying to college in 2025 and beyond, here’s how to stay ahead of these changes, depending on your goals and viewpoints.
- Research How Your Target Schools Are Handling DEI
– Visit the college’s website to see if DEI programs have been restructured or renamed.
– Ask admissions officers if mentorship and diversity support programs still exist.
– Check student organizations — if formal DEI offices are being cut, student-led groups may be taking the lead. - Adjust Your College Application Strategy
– Use your essays wisely. Since race can’t be considered in admissions, highlight your resilience, leadership, and personal experiences.
– Emphasize economic or first-generation status — many colleges are shifting their diversity focus to socioeconomic background. - Look Closely at Scholarships & Financial Aid
– Some diversity-based scholarships may change, so check if alternative need-based aid is available.
– External scholarships from private organizations may still be an option. - Understand Free Speech and DEI Policies
– Some schools are expanding free speech rights, while others are limiting DEI-related activism.
– Check student codes of conduct to see how campus discussions on race, identity, and inclusion are evolving. - Talk to Current Students
– Join admitted student groups on social media to hear what the campus climate is like.
– Read student newspapers and forums—they often cover campus activism and DEI-related policy changes.
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