For Daniela Punter Mendoza, efforts to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in higher education have literally hit home. The University of Iowa sophomore has been part of a campus housing option called the Living Learning Community, where students with an interest in Latinx culture and experiences live and study together. However, this option will be discontinued next fall due to an executive order by President Donald Trump reversing DEI programs.
“This is a small piece of home away from home,” said Punter Mendoza. “It keeps us moving forward. It keeps us motivated. It surrounds us with people who encourage us to be a part of this campus.”
The University of Iowa is one of many higher education institutions that has responded to the U.S. Department of Education’s mandate to withdraw from DEI efforts. While some are adopting a wait-and-see approach, many others are removing all mentions of DEI from their websites, shutting down programs, and some are even losing funding for scholarships.
Trump’s war against DEI initiatives began with an executive order signed on his first day in office, effectively directing agencies to align with White House policies. A letter from the Department of Education, sent to all K-12 and postsecondary institutions on February 14, further clarified the mandate, instructing schools to stop using race as a factor in admissions, financial aid, employment, training, and other areas, with a two-week deadline to comply.
The letter criticized DEI efforts, claiming these programs are “perpetuating racial stereotypes and overt racial consciousness in everyday training, programming, and discipline.”
Research has shown that DEI initiatives are often beneficial, with studies indicating that college students who are exposed to more diversity develop greater cultural awareness and political engagement.
However, with major funding at risk and potential legal action looming, a new memo issued last week added more confusion by stating that the use of the terms diversity, equity, or inclusion doesn’t automatically mean a program is violating the new guidelines.
Changes in colleges and universities due to the Department of Education’s DEI directive have included:
Discontinuation of Housing Programs Focused on Latinx, Black, and LGBTQ+ Experiences
Last week, the University of Iowa announced that, due to the Department of Education’s letter, it will no longer offer Living Learning Communities (LLCs) focused on Latinx, Black, and LGBTQ+ experiences starting next academic year.
The University’s Housing and Dining Office notified staff in a letter saying, “We understand that this may be a decision you did not expect.” A University spokesperson confirmed the decision to CNN but declined to comment further.
Like many other universities in the U.S., the University of Iowa offers LLCs, which allow students with shared interests to live together in the same dormitory and participate in organized programs. Punter Mendoza was part of Unidos, which is open to any student interested in strengthening the knowledge and empowerment of Latinx students, but is not limited to those of Latinx heritage.
In the fall, three housing options related to race, ethnicity, and gender identity will no longer be available to Punter Mendoza and other students. Instead, they will be placed in general residence halls or can apply to one of the six other LLCs still being offered, focusing on areas like engineering, arts, and sports management.
According to the university housing office’s letter, affected students were given the opportunity to participate in the general online room and roommate selection process, but Punter Mendoza said she received notice of the changes on February 18, weeks after the initial deadline for room selection had passed.
With time passing, many are uncertain about what their housing will look like next year.
“They were left with whatever was available, in any building on campus, on any floor, and sometimes with random roommates they didn’t choose,” said Punter Mendoza.
She believes LLCs offered students from vastly different backgrounds a chance to build relationships and gain perspectives they might not easily encounter otherwise. “Having an experience or conversing or making friends with someone who grew up in a completely different way, gaining that cultural awareness,” she said. “I think other students are losing that opportunity, that perspective.”
According to data from the National Center for Education Statistics, the University of Iowa enrolled around 30,000 students in 2023, with at least 71% of them being White. A page on the school’s website that provides the latest enrollment details is currently unavailable as “the university continues to review all websites and materials related to DEI.”
In its “Frequently Asked Questions” guidance, the Department of Education stated that programs focused on “specific cultures, heritages, and regions of the world” do not violate the mandate. However, schools were advised to consider whether any program excludes certain racial or ethnic groups or creates an environment of hostility based on race.
Punter Mendoza, co-founder of the University’s Latino Student Union, expressed concern that Latinx high school students will no longer see the University of Iowa as a welcoming place to attend college. “For Latinx students… coming to a predominantly White institution, it’s a major cultural shock,” she said.
Mary DeNiro, CEO of the Association of College and University Housing Officers International, noted that it’s unclear whether institutions are legally required to dismantle race- and culture-focused LLCs under the Department of Education’s guidance, calling the instructions “very broad.”
As colleges and universities begin planning for new students, DeNiro said, “It’s completely possible that some will take a chainsaw approach, while others take a scalpel until more clarification is provided.”
Dozens of students gathered at the University of Iowa campus last weekend to protest the changes, holding banners that read, “Diversity Makes a University” and “Silence Won’t Keep You Safe.”
“The removal of LLCs really sparked a fire under us. It was like, enough is enough,” said Punter Mendoza, who helped organize the protest.
As more people are directly impacted, Punter Mendoza believes concerns about dramatic changes in higher education will grow.
Reduction in Teacher Scholarships
The Trump administration’s response to DEI has had effects beyond race, ethnicity, and gender identity. In Minnesota, two universities recently lost funding for scholarships aimed at addressing teacher shortages.
The University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, a private Catholic research university, will no longer receive a $6.8 million federal grant that provided up to $120,000 annually in scholarships for graduate students pursuing careers in special education or elementary education.
30-year-old Nate McKenzie, a recipient of one of these scholarships, said he and other recipients are now wondering whether they’ll need to raise money to finish their degrees.
The University of St. Thomas reassured students that their spring tuition funding would not be affected, but McKenzie, part of a group of 20 students set to graduate after completing summer courses, said, “We’re kind of in limbo, just waiting for the other shoe to drop. And then, you know, how heavy is that?”
McKenzie’s path to the classroom wasn’t traditional. Despite coming from an academic family, he spent years working in other industries before landing a job with the Minneapolis Public School District in 2023. It was there that he learned about the scholarship for special education master’s programs at St. Thomas and decided to apply.
McKenzie, currently finishing his degree while working as a student teacher at a public school in Minneapolis, said the potential loss of scholarships will have serious consequences. “The effect will be fewer teachers and less support for students who need it… and fewer teachers for every student. A program like this going away… the real result is fewer teachers because fewer are coming through the pipeline.”
Although the University initially stated that the program could help increase the number of special education teachers “from diverse communities,” a university spokesperson clarified that the scholarships were open to students of all backgrounds, regardless of race or ethnicity.
