DEI on Campus: UConn to maintain DEI office

In response to federal activity banning diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education, the University of Connecticut plans to continue operating its DEI office, stating it is in compliance with the law.

UConn said it does not use race as a factor in any of its decisions – including admissions and hiring – and that it does not segregate or exclude on the basis of race, even as it operates its Office of Diversity and Inclusion and various cultural centers, according to a university message.

The message also states the school “has always continually worked to ensure [it is] in compliance with Title VI.”

UConn said the continued existence of its Office of Diversity and Inclusion along with cultural centers and learning communities is “compliant with the law and consistent with UConn’s overall mission as a Land Grant institution created to expand access and opportunity and to serve all people from every walk of life.”

The university message was in response to the U.S. Department of Education’s Dear Colleague letter that stated race-based decisions in education are unlawful as well as the letter’s FAQ follow-up.

Schools across the nation have been responding to this letter as well as executive orders from President Donald Trump.

For instance, Trump’s Jan. 20 executive order entitled “Ending Radical And Wasteful Government DEI Programs And Preferencing“ calls for the “termination of all discriminatory programs, including illegal DEI and “diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility” (DEIA) mandates, policies, programs, preferences, and activities in the Federal Government, under whatever name they appear.”

When asked how it was responding to this executive order, UConn referred The Center Square to the message concerning the Dear Colleague letter.

Even before this letter or any executive orders, the Idaho State Board of Education banned diversity offices in December 2024, a resolution that affected the University of Idaho, Idaho State University, Boise State University, and Lewis-Clark State College, The Center Square previously reported.

In November, Idaho State and Boise State renamed and closed its diversity offices, respectively, while the University of Idaho announced a new student engagement center following the December resolution.

When the University of Idaho was reached for comment regarding its response to Trump’s Jan. 20 executive order, The Center Square was referred to the State Board of Education’s head of communications Mike Keckler.

Keckler referred The Center Square to a series of related resolutions, one of which concerns the diversity office ban.

Ohio State University, the University of Virginia, the University of Kentucky, the University of Michigan, Case Western Reserve, and Virginia Commonwealth University have announced the dissolution of their respective diversity and inclusion offices, The Center Square previously reported, while George Mason University “updated” its office’s name.

The University of Cincinnati, the University of Arizona, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the University of Washington, the University of California, Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education, Brown University, Cornell and the University of Wisconsin–Madison are all evaluating, reviewing, or monitoring Trump’s Jan. 20 executive order, The Center Square previously reported, with no updates to their responses when reached again.

Both Temple University and the University of Arkansas intend to comply with the law as it concerns DEI, The Center Square previously reported.

The University of Washington Medicine spokeswoman Susan Gregg told The Center Square there are no updates concerning UW Medicine’s response to the executive order, after previously saying the school was continuing with its normal operations – operations that would presumably involve DEI.

Michigan State University had no update for The Center Square to its previous comment that it “feels confident [it is] continuing to operate within federal and state laws” as it regards its manner of educating and hiring.

The Center Square previously reported that Columbia University removed DEI language from parts of its website and took down some DEI-related web pages.

After previously referring The Center Square to a university announcements page, Columbia did not respond when asked for updates on its response to the executive order.

The University of Maryland, UC Irvine School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, New York University, and Mayo Clinic School of Medicine each previously told The Center Square they had no comment regarding their responses to the Jan. 20 executive order, with no updates when reached again.

UC Irvine SOM previously said it may have more information “as we learn more,” but has yet to provide any more information.

Emory University “declined to participate” when reached.

The following schools have not yet provided comment after repeated requests concerning each of their responses to the executive order:

HarvardStanfordDukeYalePennNorthwestern UniversityThe University of ChicagoBoston UniversityUC San DiegoIndiana UniversityUniversity of PittsburghCommunity College of Allegheny CountyUniversity of FloridaFlorida State UniversityEast Carolina UniversityUniversity of CincinnatiLouisiana State UniversityUniversity of MississippiUniversity of MinnesotaGeorgia TechGeorgia State UniversityRutgers UniversityOregon State UniversityUniversity of AlabamaTexas A&M UniversityUniversity of Texas at AustinPurdue UniversityCollege of William and MaryUniversity of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignUniversity of Colorado BoulderStony Brook UniversitySan Diego State UniversityClemson UniversityUniversity of OklahomaUniversity of Massachusetts AmherstBoise State UniversityBall State University