A recent investigation conducted by the conservative nonprofit, Defending Education – formerly known as Parents Defending Education – has revealed a persistent landscape of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives within colleges and universities across the nation. The study identified 383 currently active DEI offices and programs, with a significant portion—243 institutions—maintaining institutional-wide DEI structures or related programming.
Defending Education’s mission is to “fight indoctrination in classrooms and on campus to promote the reestablishment of a quality, non-political education for all students.” The investigation goes beyond simply cataloging existing programs; it highlights a trend of institutions subtly altering their DEI approaches rather than outright eliminating them.
According to the report, at least 27 universities and colleges have undertaken rebranding or reorganization efforts concerning their DEI initiatives. Notably, “in a few cases,” schools have restricted access to these resources by placing them behind password-protected web pages.
“DEI evangelists at federally funded institutions are hiding race discrimination in an effort to violate federal law and think they won’t be found out. But our latest report demonstrates they already have been,”
stated Sarah Parshall Perry, Defending Education Vice President and Legal Fellow, emphasizing her extensive experience with higher education legal matters. She argued that despite explicit directives from the White House urging an end to DEI practices, many institutions are attempting to conceal discriminatory actions by renaming or reorganizing race-based programs and offices.
Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) has emerged as a focal point of these concerns. Following accusations of concealing DEI resources, a VUMC spokesperson acknowledged a “thorough review” of its programs, aiming to identify necessary revisions for compliance – including updates to public-facing information on websites.
However, despite this stated review, offices such as the Office of Health Equity, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, and the Office for Diversity Affairs remain apparently active, according to Senator Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn. This situation has fueled further scrutiny.
The investigation coincides with broader controversy surrounding DEI initiatives nationwide. The White House has publicly criticized prestigious universities like Harvard, accusing them of “egregious illegal behavior” due to their resistance to ending DEI programs. As a result, Harvard faces the potential loss of over $2 billion in federal funding.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt highlighted concerns about preferential treatment afforded to Ivy League institutions, questioning why taxpayer dollars are directed toward universities allegedly engaged in “indoctrinating” students and facilitating unlawful discrimination.
“It’s a question the president has obviously raised in his discussions,” Leavitt stated.
Sarah Parshall Perry affirmed Defending Education’s continued commitment to uncovering instances of discrimination within higher education, aiming to realize “the guarantee of a ‘colorblind education’ for every American student” – a goal she believes can be achieved “once and for all.”