DEI Programs Dismantled in US Colleges

0:00It's April 8th. I'm Cory with the story. This is Birmingham News Today, driven by AI. The U.S. Department of Education just dropped a statement celebrating the Trump administration's push to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion. Programs in college is nationwide. They say over 300 schools have scrapped DEI requirements, shut down those offices, ditched diversity statements, and hiring, and overhauled, or axed DEI policies altogether. It's a big win against what they call skewed admissions, favoring race over straight merit. On the state level, these anti-DEI moves have been ramping up for years, with public universities closing offices and firing or reassigning staff. At least 175 colleges have restructured or eliminated their DEI offices, and 95 have cut DEI faculty or shifted them elsewhere. Alabama's been out front, passing Senate Bill 129 back in March of 2024, to block divisive race and identity teachings at state schools.

1:03Folks are reacting strong to how these programs let academic standards slip while pushing race-based preferences. The White House highlighted that shift toward merit and admissions, and its sparking real change on campuses that were deep in what critics call, Ideology. States like Alabama led the charge, showing the feds how it's done early on. Recent trackers spotlight Alabama schools like Sanford University, University of Alabama, Auburn, and others from North Alabama to Tuskegee all. Closing DEI offices and killing related programs. Just this week, reports hit on more dismantling at University of Alabama, plus pass probes into race-based scholarships and segregation vibes at spots. Like, University of Alabama at Birmingham, while these victory stack of nation-wide, the fight ain't overwalk routes are just hiding out on campuses. Pulling them fully means staying vigilant to keep mayor first and stand or tie.