Diversity in Higher Education

The AAUP has long advocated for diversity in higher education and championed efforts aimed at ensuring that students of all races have equal access to higher education. In the face of recent attacks from the Trump administration, reactionary state governments and a conservative Supreme Court, the AAUP reaffirms its commitment to the crucial goal of ensuring that a diverse range of students have access to US colleges and universities. To that end, the AAUP pledges to work with faculty, college and university administrations, and social justice organizations.

The Trump administration has repeatedly sought to clamp down on speech and expression related to race and identity, moving from the censorship of ideas into a war on the civil rights era itself. Trump issued executive orders that used the threat of terminating billions of dollars of grants and contracts, as well as the threat of investigations and enforcement actions, to force faculty and universities to cease virtually all of their legally permissible work relating to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. And the Trump Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights threatened to annihilate sixty years of advancements in equal opportunity by eliminating all federal funding for schools that support and celebrate students from diverse backgrounds.

This follows the ongoing state legislative attacks on efforts to foster diversity and address the United States’ history of racism by seeking to limit or ban truthful teaching about racial injustice. The AAUP has vigorously opposed these attempts by politicians to dictate what is taught in college and university classrooms.

Similarly, the Republican-appointed majority on the Supreme Court ruled in June 2023 in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard and Students for Fair Admissions v. University of North Carolina that the race-conscious admissions policies used by Harvard and UNC violate the US Constitution and federal law. This decision overturns what had been settled law for more than forty years.

Those of us in the higher education community must continue to fight back and protect our core values. Ensuring access to higher education for all students and promoting equity in education and fostering vibrant college and university campuses characterized by the freedom to learn, teach, and conduct research. There remain numerous avenues for combatting racial inequalities in higher education, eliminating barriers to access, and promoting the success of all students, and the AAUP stands committed to helping members, chapters, and state conferences to explore those options and insist on meaningful change. 

AAUP Policy Statements, Reports, and Analysis

(See also our resource pages on racial justice and on legislation to restrict teaching and diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.)

Trump Administration Attacks on Diversity

Resources to Preserve and Advance Diversity

Media and Commentary 

Additional Resources and Statements