College Does Not Plan to Adjust DEI Policies to Trump’s Orders

Despite the Trump administration’s attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI) does not plan to change any of its policies.

In his first weeks in office, Trump has declared war on a broad set of policies he terms “DEI” and argues are illegal. This includes an executive order vowing to investigate higher education institutions with endowments over $1 billion, such as the college, that refuse to comply with his anti-DEI measures.

Though other campuses have already canceled events, changed policies, and rewritten sections of their websites in attempts to comply with the order, Pawan Dhingra, interim chief inclusion officer, told The Student he believes the college is already fully compliant with federal law.

“There have been no changes, and we do not foresee making any major changes in the weeks to come,” Interim Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer Pawan Dhingra said. “We are confident that what we do is in line with the law.”

Dhingra claimed that ODEI is also confident that Amherst’s DEI policies do not place the college at risk of losing federal funding.

“We don’t know how to interpret these executive orders … but it is not causing a concern at the moment … [The college] is talking with lawyers. We want to be prepared, but you don’t want to overreact or preemptively act,” Dhingra said.

ODEI works across campus to ensure an inclusive environment for students and staff. ODEI encompasses the Center for Restorative Practices, Civil Rights, and Title IX. The department also works closely with athletics in addition to supporting faculty and staff in terms of hiring and consultations.

The US Department of Education reverted back to 2020 Title IX regulations introduced during Trump’s first term. Trump’s regulations only protect discrimination based on sex as defined at birth, whereas Biden’s took into consideration discrimination on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation.

Since Title IX is federal law, the college will follow new procedural guidelines. However, Dhingra explained that Amherst’s Title IX office will continue to protect a broader set of identities.

“While Title IX is tied to federal law, it is not a ceiling of what we protect; it is the floor. We have other policies, like our nondiscrimination and harassment policy, that offer further protections based on either state law or [the college’s] commitments,” Dhingra said.

Responses to Trump’s anti-DEI policies vary across higher education institutions, as some universities have moved to protect against a loss of federal grant money. Northeastern University, for example, removed DEI language from their website, changing their office’s name to “Belonging at Northeastern.” Mount Holyoke College, on the other hand, vowed to resist “Trump’s vision for the country.”

“If any university is [removing DEI language] to fly under the radar and not to be seen as DEI is somewhat naïve,” Dhingra said, “You [have] got to always be asking … What are the costs? What are the side effects of this? What do we gain? If anything, what will our community think about this?”

Additionally, Dhingra, echoing similar remarks by President Michael Elliott, tied the college’s diversity efforts to its core mission and commitment to academic freedom.

“DEI is a part of [making] academic freedom come to life. You want a diversity of views, a diversity of people to both express and engage with the views,” Dhingra said. “[ODEI] is committed to being challenged and hearing things you don’t like … feeling included and feeling comfortable all the time are not the same.”

ODEI will host a public meeting session on Monday in the Cole Assembly Room to field questions and concerns from students, staff, faculty, and community members.