How Virginia University Reform Efforts Reflect Nationwide Conservative Challenges: Insights from Experts

In 1966, Joe Feagin had to swear he wasn’t a communist just to get a teaching job at a university. He graduated during a time of significant change—the intense political climate of McCarthyism and the oppressive Jim Crow era in Texas.

The ’60s were a chaotic time, with protests over the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights Movement gaining momentum. Feagin remembers how demographics began to shift as more Latinos and Asians entered the country thanks to new immigration laws. He recalls, “Things were looking up. Jim Crow laws were fading, and Black students were starting to attend universities where they had been nearly invisible.”

However, after nearly 60 years in education, Feagin sees many of those gains slipping away. Recent political actions, especially under former President Donald Trump, have raised concerns about academic freedom. Trump threatened to cut federal funding to universities over anti-war protests and diversity initiatives. Many states, including Virginia, are pushing to limit professors’ control over curricula and governance.

Bob Holsworth, a political analyst in Virginia, notes that the influence faculty once held over university decisions is diminishing. Governor Glenn Youngkin is appointing board members who prioritize political agendas over traditional academic values. This change follows a long trend of eroded governance, which has only intensified in recent years.

At universities like Virginia Commonwealth and George Mason, initiatives to teach racial literacy and gender studies were abruptly canceled after state scrutiny. Youngkin’s administration viewed these programs as too progressive, with a former press secretary labeling them as attempts to enforce a “progressive groupthink.”

Amy Reid, a former professor in Florida, says similar tactics have emerged in her state under Governor Ron DeSantis, who removed diversity programs from schools. She argues these changes reflect a broader conservative strategy to inject politics into education, stifling independent thought.

Across 26 states, over 90 bills aimed at reforming higher education have surfaced in the last three years. As of March 2023, at least 16 have become law. Many target diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, challenging their place in university curricula. Some proposals also threaten faculty tenure, a longstanding safeguard for academic freedom.

This push aligns with the objectives of conservative groups like the Heritage Foundation, which advocate for reducing federal influence in higher education. Their controversial Project 2025 plan seeks to reshape educational standards, soliciting a return to what they define as core American values.

Feagin warns that these actions could lead the U.S. to repeat past mistakes. He believes cutting research and diversity initiatives is counterproductive, especially when facing global competition, particularly from China. He argues, “You can make it difficult, but efforts to slow down diversity won’t last.”

Recent polls suggest that many Americans express dissatisfaction with the rising costs of education and question the relevance of certain academic paths. According to a 2023 survey by the Pew Research Center, 79% of respondents believe that higher education needs significant reforms.

As the landscape of higher education shifts, advocates for academic freedom stress the need for institutions to operate independently and foster an environment free of censorship. The push for more inclusive education remains crucial, not just for universities but for the broader society.

For further insights on these issues, you can read more from sources like PEN America and Inside Higher Ed.

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