How Philadelphia schools are responding to Trump admin's DEI warning
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The Trump administration's threat to strip federal funding from schools that maintain their diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies has sent Philadelphia institutions scrambling.
Why it matters: The loss of federal funding could lead to cuts in school research and operations, while dismantling DEI programs will disrupt student life.
State of play: The Department of Education letter last week instructed educational institutions from preschool to college to eliminate any DEI policies within 14 days.
- Schools are instructed to review their policies, cease efforts to circumvent bans of race considerations or its proxies, and end contracts with third parties that consider race.
- Some Philly universities are taking action to comply with the request, while others are playing wait-and-see.
Zoom in: The University of Pennsylvania has already scrubbed and modified several of its schools' websites dealing with DEI language — or removed them altogether.
- University leadership has also amended a policy on equal opportunity and nondiscrimination, including nixing references to affirmative action, per the Daily Pennsylvanian.
- Penn's medical school is expected to axe committees dealing with DEI and programs that help diversify its student body, per the Inquirer.
What they're saying: University officials are reviewing programs for compliance with federal law but not revising the school's values, Penn spokesperson Ron Ozio tells Axios.
Temple University is reviewing its policies and practices to ensure they "align with all legal requirements while staying true to our mission and values," per a statement from school president John Fry.
Drexel University has yet to make any changes as it monitors the situation, per the Inquirer.
- Drexel didn't return Axios' request for comment.
Meanwhile, the School District of Philadelphia is currently "reviewing the information and analyzing any potential impact and implications for the district," spokesperson Christina Clark tells Axios.
Between the lines: Many DEI programs, which sprang up in 2020 amid the Black Lives Matter protests, typically promote inclusiveness, ensure diversity in hiring and work to fight systemic racism.
- The latest crackdown on DEI programs accelerates the ongoing pullback of such initiatives at universities and businesses in recent years.
What we're watching: The Education Department's interpretation of the Supreme Court's affirmative action ruling could also challenge content taught in classes, along with functions of student organizations.
What's next: The department will "take appropriate measures to assess compliance" with the administration's interpretation of the law by the end of the month.
- However, the department's order is likely to be challenged in court.