How the 2024 Election Could Shape the Future of DEI in Higher Education

As the 2024 presidential election draws near, former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris have released contrasting platforms, particularly concerning the future of DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) programs in higher education.

The Trump Platform: Rolling Back DEI

Donald Trump openly opposes DEI initiatives, viewing them as an exercise in governmental overreach. During his presidency, Trump made moves to curtail related efforts, most notably through his administration’s Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping executive order.

This order, signed in September 2020, sought to limit diversity training in federal agencies and for contractors, labeling them “divisive” and “against American values.” If elected, Trump aims to revive and expand this approach. His platform suggests a significant rollback of federal support for DEI programs, which could have a ripple effect on higher education.

“Every institution in America is under attack from this Marxist concept of ‘equity,’” he said during a speech last year.

Colleges and universities, particularly public institutions, might experience federal government scrutiny and retribution for continuing their DEI initiatives. This could lead to withheld government funding, stricter regulations, and a reduction in efforts to foster inclusive environments.

According to his re-election website, Trump has vowed to reverse the Biden administration’s “woke equity” programs and wants Congress to compensate those “unjustly discriminated against by these destructive policies.” In May of this year, Trump said he would “end” the Biden administration’s Title IX protections for transgender students, during an appearance on Kayal and Company, a conservative talk radio show in Philadelphia.

Additionally, Trump’s stance on immigration led to stricter policies during his first term. If he is re-elected, universities could face challenges related to federal funding, international student enrollment, visa regulations, and potential impacts on first-generation students and other campus groups.

The Harris Platform: Expanding DEI Efforts

Vice President Kamala Harris has been a staunch advocate for DEI initiatives throughout her career. During her term as vice president, she has supported policies that promote diversity in education, and her campaign for the presidency emphasizes the importance of expanding these efforts.

“In spite of those who in certain parts of our country want to attack DEI, we understand that you can’t truly invest in the strength of our nation if you don’t pay attention to diversity, equity, and inclusion,” she said during a visit to Atlanta in April.

Harris’ platform includes proposals to increase federal funding for DEI programs, particularly in higher education. She has called for a significant investment in historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and Minority-Serving Institutions, recognizing their critical role in providing access to education for underrepresented communities.

Harris also supports strengthening Title IX protections and ensuring that universities uphold policies addressing discrimination and promoting equity.

Under a Harris administration, DEI programs could see a significant boost in both resources and visibility, potentially translating into more comprehensive support systems for students from diverse backgrounds, expanded curriculum offerings that reflect a broader range of perspectives, and increased accountability for institutions that fail to meet DEI standards.

A Harris presidency would likely foster an environment where DEI initiatives are supported and seen by many as essential.

Potential Impacts on Higher Education

The debate over DEI is not just about funding and policy; it’s also about the values that colleges and universities espouse.

DEI initiatives help recruit and retain students and faculty from underrepresented groups, not just based on race and ethnicity but also including military veterans, students with disabilities, those who identify as LGBTQIA+, and others. A 2018 study showed a strong relationship between faculty diversity and the graduation rates of minority students.

For many students, faculty, and staff, DEI is central to the overall objectives of higher education, which include developing students as individuals and global citizens as much as preparing them for their future careers.

The candidates’ contrasting approaches could lead to vastly different futures in higher education, resulting in completely opposing cultures and climates on campuses.

The Department of Education

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) has a host of responsibilities: managing student loans, investigating complaints against schools, and tracking education progress across the country.

In August, Trump spoke of closing the ED to allow state governments to “run the education of our children.”

Republicans, including Trump during his previous term in the White House, have advocated for closing the ED since its inception in 1979. In the event of a shutdown, the ED’s responsibilities would fall on other departments, be eliminated entirely, or be managed at the state level.

Although Harris has not yet released a plan for the ED, she supports free two-year college tuition for most students and free four-year college or trade school tuition for lower- and middle-income families. Under the Biden administration, student loan forgiveness has been prioritized, with the ED outlining options in July for roughly 25 million borrowers to have some or all of their debt canceled.

Historically Black Colleges and Universities

Both Trump and Harris have supported funding for HBCUs.

In 2019, Trump signed the bipartisan FUTURE Act, securing $255 million annually for HBCUs and directing over $100 million to scholarships and research at HBCU land-grant institutions.

Harris, during her first presidential run, proposed increased HBCU funding, particularly for Black educator training.

The Road Ahead

As voters consider their options in the 2024 election, the future of DEI in higher education and the outlook for higher education itself hang in the balance.

Trump’s plan promises a return to a pared-down, noninclusive approach to education, while Harris envisions a more inclusive and equitable future. Whoever wins, there is no doubt that the outcome will have far-reaching implications for colleges and universities across the country.