As the nation faces turmoil, California’s leaders are being tested on their values and courage. The state’s diversity, which propels its economy, is under threat. California’s renowned universities, known for fostering innovation, are now at odds with the Trump administration’s policies. Activists, lawyers, and nonprofits, who protect society from government overreach, face mounting pressures.
Defending California’s core values of progress and racial justice is crucial, yet higher education is experiencing a concerning retreat. Now is not the time for silence. Educational leaders must stand firm in defending California’s principles.
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President Trump recently dismantled the U.S. Department of Education, impacting essential services for rural and disabled students and financial aid. Justifying this move, partisan leaders have criticized diversity, equity, and inclusion ideals, probing over fifty universities for fostering inclusive environments.
Universities once at the forefront of social progress are now silent. The administration’s attacks on inclusion practices have led to rapid surrender by many higher education leaders. However, Harvard’s legal challenges and a letter from college presidents resisting these demands are noteworthy.
California has been slow to act, with few universities taking decisive action. Recently, the University of Southern California removed DEI commitments, and the University of California system stopped requiring diversity statements for faculty.
Despite these setbacks, California’s universities previously sought to create inclusive environments for diverse students, essential for a state with a growing diverse student population. Campaign for College Opportunity president Jessie Ryan highlights the importance of equity and inclusion in boosting educational opportunities and driving California’s economic success.
Efforts to ensure equitable course placement and expand financial aid for over 150,000 low-income students have been key, alongside reforms that eased transfers for more than half a million community college students, many of whom are Latino. These policies have enhanced California’s economic prospects.
Higher education leaders must not yield to the current administration. Public opinion shows most Americans oppose shutting down the Department of Education, and many disapprove of ending DEI policies.
Related: OPINION: With higher education under siege, college presidents cannot afford to stay silent
To protect marginalized communities, education leaders should:
- Maintain university DEI policies until a thorough impact analysis is conducted.
- Engage stakeholders and students before making regressive decisions.
- Use evidence-based strategies from our “Equity, Inclusion, Action” briefs to promote equitable outcomes for underrepresented students.
California, home to the largest higher education system, plays a crucial role in defending institutions from federal attacks. Leaders must separate fact from fiction, safeguard civil rights, and reaffirm that the nation’s democratic and economic future relies on all students’ success. California must lead, showing the way forward for the country.
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