Diversity
Trump Expands Race Data Disclosure Requirements, Putting Harvard Admissions Under Scrutiny Again
Harvard and all other American universities will now be required to submit data proving that they do not consider race in admissions, following a Thursday memorandum from President Donald Trump.
Harvard’s Accrediting Agency Proposes Removing DEI Standards, in Line With Trump Order
The nonprofit commission that determines whether Harvard receives accreditation proposed new standards earlier this month that removed references to diversity, equity, and inclusion — the latest shift away from DEI in higher education as the Trump administration pushes for its elimination.
Conservative Legal Group Backs Justice Dept. Investigation Into Harvard’s Admissions Policies
America First Legal Foundation, a conservative legal group founded by senior Trump adviser Stephen Miller, published a letter Wednesday backing a federal investigation into whether Harvard has failed to comply with a Supreme Court ruling that ended affirmative action.
Harvard Merges Gender Equity and Community Conduct Offices
Harvard announced Monday that it will combine its gender equity and nondiscrimination efforts under a new Office for Community Support, Non-Discrimination, Rights, and Responsibilities in order to unify the University’s Title IX and Title VI compliance efforts.
Harvard College Closes Diversity Offices, Reassigns Staff to New ‘Harvard Foundation’
Harvard College will close its offices for minority students, LGBTQ students, and women and fold their staff under a new Office of Culture and Community, according to a Wednesday message from College Dean David J. Deming.
Harvard Grad Schools Rebrand Diversity Offices as University Wipes DEI Messaging
Several Harvard graduate schools began shuttering their diversity, equity, and inclusion offices over the past two weeks, continuing the University’s effort to replace DEI programs that the Trump administration has broadly painted as illegal.
Harvard College, Faculty of Arts and Sciences Replace Diversity Offices Amid DEI Purge
The dismantling of Harvard’s diversity offices arrived at Harvard College on Wednesday as websites for centers serving minority students, LGBTQ students, and women disappeared suddenly and without fanfare.
Faculty of Arts and Sciences Overwhelmingly Backs Harvard’s Fight Against Trump, Survey Shows
A decisive majority of faculty who responded to The Crimson’s annual survey of Harvard’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences support the University’s lawsuit against the Trump administration’s federal funding freeze — and believe Harvard shouldn’t cut a deal with the White House.
A Mass Leak Showed the Harvard Law Review Assessed Articles for DEI Values. Some Authors Say That’s Not a Problem.
After a massive leak, the Harvard Law Review was accused of using a racially conscious and ideologically discriminatory rubric to evaluate article submissions. But many of the authors whose works were evaluated in the leaked documents didn’t see it that way.
Rejecting Grad Union’s Title IX Request, Harvard Asks To Ban External Arbitration in All Discrimination Cases
As it negotiates with its graduate student union, Harvard is looking to excise contract language that lays out antidiscrimination protections and instead shift authority over complaints to policies and procedures maintained by the University.
House Committee To Investigate Harvard’s Hiring Practices for Racial Discrimination
Nine Republican lawmakers on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce opened an investigation into Harvard’s faculty hiring practices on Tuesday, claiming Harvard may have violated federal employment discrimination law by considering race and gender.
Nonprofit CEO John Rice Defends Diversity Efforts in HBS Class Day Speech
In a Harvard Business School Class Day address last week, John Rice, the founder and CEO of Management Leadership for Tomorrow, contended that diversity and inclusion remained important to leveling the playing field in business — and that the term had been unjustly stigmatized.
HMS Restructures and Renames Diversity Office, Removes Pledge To Fight Inequities
The Harvard Medical School renamed its diversity office and announced changes to several major DEI programs on Wednesday in the latest rollback of diversity infrastructure at Harvard.
Students Hold Unofficial Affinity Celebrations, Marked by Anger at University Decision to Withdraw Support
Eight affinity groups held celebrations for Commencement this week, despite having been denied funding and access to campus venues by Harvard officials.
Weeks After Cutting Off Support for Affinity Grad Events, Harvard Funds ASL Interpreter for Disability Celebration
After the University announced it would no longer host or fund affinity group celebrations for Commencement, Harvard funded an interpreter for a Tuesday disability affinity ceremony but told organizers to distance the event from traditional affinity celebrations held in previous years.
The Rise and Fall of DEI at Harvard
Over the past three years, Harvard has shifted its approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion programs — moving from a full-throated support to abandoning the language of DEI amid threats from a hostile White House.
Garber Defends Leadership Changes and DEI Office Renaming, Denies Political Pressure
Harvard President Alan M. Garber ’76 acknowledged concerns that the dismissal of two faculty directors at the Center for Middle Eastern Studies in March and the renaming of the University’s diversity office appeared to some as concessions to the Trump administration, but declined to explain either decision.
6 New Members Elected to Harvard Board of Overseers
The newly-elected Overseers include Mark A. Edwards ’82, Nathaniel O. Keohane, Michael Rosenblatt, Anjali Sud, Courtney B. Vance ’82, and Mary Louise Kelly ’93.
Khurana Reaffirms Inclusivity Commitment As Affinity Groups Organize Unsponsored Grad Celebrations
Outgoing College Dean Rakesh Khurana affirmed his commitment to inclusive programming in a Tuesday interview after Harvard announced it would no longer fund or provide campus spaces for affinity graduation celebrations.
Harvard Affinity Groups Plan Commencement Celebrations Without University Support
At least six Harvard affinity groups will host unofficial celebrations for students graduating next week following the University’s decision to revoke funding and space for the annual traditions.
EEOC Launches Investigation Into Harvard’s Hiring Practices, Alleging Title VII Violations
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission launched an investigation into Harvard in late April, alleging that the University has engaged in discriminatory hiring practices in violation of Title VII since 2018, according to documents leaked to the Washington Free Beacon.
Harvard Will Not Fund Affinity Group Graduation Celebrations Following Ed Department Warning
Harvard will no longer host or fund affinity group celebrations during Commencement, the University’s former diversity office wrote in an email to affinity groups on Monday afternoon.
Harvard Renames Diversity Office As Trump Demands Dismantling of DEI
Harvard will immediately rename its Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging to “Community and Campus Life,” the University announced Monday.
HLS Dean of Students Condemns ‘Disturbing’ Mass Emails Sent to Students After Law Review Controversy
Harvard Law School Dean of Students Stephen L. Ball condemned a pair of mass emails sent to law students on Friday that accused the Harvard Law Review of discriminating against white authors and urged applicants to falsify their racial and gender identities on application materials.