Race on Campus

Three Trump orders that could change higher ed

President Trump could drastically change hiring and employment practices. During the first week of his second term, President Trump signed a flurry of executive orders, including one to rescind the Equal Employment Opportunity order signed in 1965 by President Lyndon B. Johnson. The goal is to root out diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in the federal government. The order applies to federal contractors and likely to the majority of colleges that receive federal funding or financial aid. Our Katherine Mangan outlined how this could change hiring at public and private colleges.

Is this the end of race-based funding for minority-serving institutions? Conservative activists are asking Congress to cut the more than $1 billion it appropriates each year for colleges serving students of color. They argue those funds should cover programs that help all disadvantaged students, regardless of race. About 830 colleges are designated as minority-serving institutions. Our Katherine Mangan and J. Brian Charles explain the movement to eliminate them.

Colleges are preparing for immigration authorities to come to campus. As immigration enforcement increases under the Trump administration, some colleges are releasing new protocols for what faculty, staff, and students should do if they are approached by federal authorities. There are about 400,000 undocumented college students across the country. Our Maya Stahl has the details.