University of Nebraska Board of Regents Revises DEI Language Amid Federal Pressure: What It Means for Students and Faculty

In a recent decision, the University of Nebraska’s Board of Regents, by a 6-2 margin, has removed references to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and affirmative action from its policy documents. This shift comes in response to the Trump administration’s stated goal of cutting funding for DEI programs, likely influencing the regents to revise their policies.

Back in April 2025, after discussions that began in February, the board simplified the university’s discrimination policy. Instead of listing specific group identities, it now features a single, broad statement. This move follows a warning from the U.S. Department of Education that DEI practices might lead to discrimination, labeling them as “morally reprehensible.”

Other universities have also felt the pressure. For instance, the University of Nebraska Omaha closed its DEI office shortly after these announcements. Elizabeth O’Connor, a regent, expressed concerns that these changes could harm support for students and research initiatives, suggesting this shift could represent the beginning of long-term negative effects.

Currently, the U.S. Department of Education is investigating numerous universities for their DEI practices, leading some, like Arizona State University, to rename DEI events and move resources for LGBTQ+ students to less prominent locations. Similarly, the University of Pennsylvania recently cut DEI positions and rebranded its DEI webpage to focus on “Belonging.”

These changes reflect a larger trend across higher education, where institutions are reconsidering their DEI initiatives in light of federal guidelines. As conversations about diversity and inclusion continue to unfold, the impact of these decisions on campus culture remains to be seen.



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