WASHINGTON (AP) — The administration under Trump is instructing schools and universities across the nation to dismantle diversity initiatives within two weeks or face possible loss of federal funding, intensifying the president’s campaign against “wokeness” and creating uncertainty as institutions strive to comply.
In a memorandum issued on Friday, the Education Department laid down an ultimatum, requiring the cessation of “racial preferences” in admissions, financial assistance, hiring, and other domains. Educational institutions now have a 14-day window to eliminate any practices that differentiate students or staff based on their race.
This extensive demand has the potential to dramatically alter education in various aspects. The memo specifically targets admission offices at colleges, prohibiting personal essays or writing prompts that might indicate an applicant’s race. It bans dormitories or graduation events designated for students of specific races, and initiatives aimed at recruiting teachers from underrepresented backgrounds could be interpreted as discriminatory.
The intent behind this directive is to address what the memo describes as widespread discrimination within the education sector, frequently against white and Asian students.
“Institutions have been operating under the notion that selecting students for ‘diversity’ or similar terms does not equate to selecting based on race,” stated Craig Trainor, the acting assistant secretary for civil rights. “That practice ends now. Students must be evaluated based on merit, achievements, and character.”
While the memo does not alter federal law, it signals a shift in the federal government’s understanding of antidiscrimination regulations. Under its broad interpretation, almost any practice that mentions race could be classified as racial discrimination.
As legal backing for this new memo, it references the 2023 Supreme Court decision that prohibits the consideration of race in college admissions. Although the ruling was specific to admissions, the memo claims it has “broader applicability.”
“In essence, educational institutions are prohibited from segregating students by race or distributing benefits or disadvantages based on race,” it stated.
This directive extends President Donald Trump’s executive order prohibiting diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.
On Monday, the Education Department also announced the cancellation of $600 million in grants for organizations training teachers. These programs were accused of promoting “divisive” concepts such as DEI, critical race theory, and social justice activism, according to the department.
The memo triggered a wave of anxiety across colleges nationwide as administrators hurriedly evaluated their exposure to potential risks. Many were frantically assessing which initiatives might jeopardize their compliance.
In a letter to the University of Michigan’s campus, President Santa J. Ono noted that leaders are currently working to comprehend the ramifications of this directive.
His message included examples from the memo — one prohibiting admissions essays that might indicate an applicant’s race and another stating that eliminating standardized testing requirements “to achieve a desired racial balance or to boost racial diversity” is unlawful.
A number of universities have relaxed standardized testing requirements in recent years, including Michigan.
Some institutions asserted that they do not anticipate significant changes due to the memo. At Oregon State University, a legal evaluation determined that its programs “are fully compliant with all state and federal laws,” according to a campus communication from Rob Odom, vice president of university relations and marketing.
The department’s memo seems to target scholarships designated for students from specific racial backgrounds. There has been legal debate regarding whether the Supreme Court’s decision applies to financial aid, with many schools choosing to remove racial criteria for certain scholarships.
The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators stated that there is no consensus on this matter, and the organization is working to comprehend how the memo could impact student aid.
“What we do know is that 14 days is inadequate for institutions to evaluate and implement necessary changes for compliance,” the group remarked in a statement. “The last thing students need when planning how to finance their education is uncertainty regarding their expected financial aid.”
The ambiguity surrounding Trump’s order was evident during last week’s confirmation hearing for education secretary nominee Linda McMahon. When asked if classes on African American history would conflict with the president’s order, McMahon expressed uncertainty.
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