By: Jenna Pakirtzis
April 6, 2025
Minnesota colleges are grappling with the impact of new federal policies limiting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, introduced through recent executive orders by President Donald Trump. These changes, involving funding cuts and policy adjustments, have already caused disruptions at institutions such as the University of St. Thomas and the University of Minnesota.
What is DEI?
Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) focus on policies and programs that promote fair treatment and representation for marginalized groups. In higher education, DEI involves recruiting diverse students, creating support systems, and developing inclusive materials that reflect a range of perspectives.
Critics argue DEI programs give unfair advantages, promote biases, and are costly, while supporters believe they ensure equity and opportunity for marginalized students.
What has President Trump changed?
Since returning to office, President Trump has moved quickly to reduce federal support for DEI programs in higher education. His recent executive orders ban federal funding for DEI-labeled initiatives, citing concerns over costs and potential political influence. As reported by NewsNation, colleges prioritizing DEI efforts now face the risk of losing federal grants and subsidies.
Trump’s administration claims DEI policies have strayed from their original goals, fostering division instead. Education Secretary Linda McMahon emphasized refocusing taxpayer-funded education on core subjects like math, science, and history, rather than DEI programs or gender ideology. Critics argue this crackdown is politically driven and undermines years of progress toward equitable education, already impacting Minnesota’s higher education landscape.
How has this impacted MN institutions?
Minnesota colleges are already feeling the effects of these policies. At the University of St. Thomas, a grant aimed at addressing the state’s teacher shortage was classified as a DEI initiative by Trump’s administration. This grant, intended to recruit and train underrepresented teachers to reflect Minnesota’s changing student demographics, led to 185 students losing their scholarships and stipends, according to the Star Tribune. Notably, these funds were open to all students, regardless of race or ethnicity, with the majority awarded to white students.
At the University of Minnesota Law School, plans to hire a DEI director have been put on hold, indicating that officials are reassessing their DEI initiatives due to potential funding risks.
Students and staff are expressing concern about the future, with some fearing these cuts could fundamentally alter college campuses and have lasting impacts on diversity.
Where do we go from here?
While some schools rush to comply, the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) and other groups have sued, claiming the restrictions violate academic freedom. Meanwhile, some institutions are finding creative ways to reframe DEI efforts to preserve funding.
The future of diversity and inclusion initiatives is uncertain, leaving many to wonder: what will higher education become without these programs?