DEI

As President Donald Trump continues to crack down on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, a complex and unpredictable landscape is emerging for prospective college students.

State higher-education leaders and university trustees have fired back at a lawsuit that alleges a 2023 law targeting diversity, equity and inclusion issues at universities violates the First Amendment.

The six professors claim the restrictions violate educators’ and students’ speech rights. They say is has "left instructors and students fearful for the future of not only education, but also free thought and democracy in Florida.”

The University of South Florida is one of many schools forced to phase out diversity, equity, and inclusion offices thanks to a new state law. But USF officials say the school will remain diverse.

It comes after Gov. DeSantis signed a bill prohibiting the use of state funds for any DEI programs, and in response to the University of Florida and other schools eliminating their programs.

The University of Florida is eliminating its chief diversity officer position, scrapping the program's staff jobs because of a new law passed last year that was pushed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis.

A Florida official told WLRN scholarships for the descendants of victims of the racist attacks on Rosewood and Ocoee will continue. That's even as state schools are banned from using public funds on programs that promote diversity, equity and inclusion.

Carrying out parts of a controversial 2023 law, the State Board of Education approved rules that will prevent colleges from spending money on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and remove a sociology class from a list of "core" courses.

The board met late Wednesday night on the University of Central Florida campus in Orlando.

The Florida Board of Governors released draft regulations outlining how it would limit spending on diversity, equity, and inclusion programs at the state's colleges and universities.

The lawsuit was filed by professors and students of New College of Florida, a small, public liberal arts college that has been used by Gov. Ron DeSantis as a staging ground for his war on “woke.” The suit seeks to block enforcement of the law.

The move is an echo of the Florida governor’s agenda which has championed curtailing such programs in higher education and elsewhere.