By Jamie Miller, Alexa Cheaney and Vanessa Hewitt
On Feb. 14, the U.S. Department of Education issued a directive to all K-12 schools and institutions of higher education that receive federal funding to get rid of the diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives at their schools or risk losing federal funding.
“These institutions’ embrace of pervasive and repugnant race-based preferences and other forms of racial discrimination have emanated throughout every facet of academia,” according to the document. Examples are given regarding DEI in education, stating, “colleges, universities, and K-12 schools have routinely used race as a factor in admissions, financial aid, hiring, training, and other institutional programming.”
Grand Rapids Community College received $34.3 million in federal funding during the last fiscal year, and as the deadline looms to eliminate programming or receive funding cuts, the future of DEI at the college is still unknown.
Many students at GRCC are not in favor of banning DEI policies, including 17-year-old Juan Escalante, who said, “I don’t think they should change them… It makes people feel more included.”
In regard to GRCC’s student organizations that may be impacted by DEI cuts, Boston Cash, a 19-year-old business major, does not agree with restricting any student group.
“I think it’s unreasonable to just take it away from them. I’m not totally familiar on what (DEI-based student organizations) do personally but I don’t see any reason why we should stop it,” Cash said.
Christina Stroble, a nursing major from Lansing, hopes GRCC continues to fund DEI programs, regardless of the potential to lose federal funding.
“I know it’s hard for community colleges because so much of their funding comes from the government, but I’d like to think that they would really keep up those efforts (to keep DEI),” she said.
The Collegiate reached out to eight college administrators regarding how the new government mandate could impact GRCC’s finances, enrollment and the student experience at the college. No administrators could be reached for comment.
On behalf of GRCC President Charles Lepper, Lyndsie Post, Executive Director of Marketing & Communications, shared with The Collegiate via email that the college is currently reviewing the directive issued by the Department of Education.
“The college remains committed to ensuring equal access to educational and employment opportunities while continuing to foster a safe and welcoming environment for students, faculty and staff,” Post stated. “We are working to ensure a full understanding of the scope and effect of the recent guidance, and as always, we will continue to work to support all GRCC students, employees and members of the campus community.”
Chairperson of the GRCC Board of Trustees, Brandy Lovelady Mitchell, echoed that the board remains committed to inclusion on campus.
“Please know GRCC’s BOT care(s) deeply about creating and sustaining a flourishing work and learning environment for every Raider – current, prospective, alumni, faculty and staff,” Mitchell stated.
According to the directive, GRCC has until Feb. 28 to cut DEI programming across campus or lose federal funding. Trustee Salvador Lopez informed The Collegiate that these conversations are underway as the deadline approaches.
“Please know that the board is in deep conversations about this and other topics and there is more to come in the near future,” Lopez stated in an email to The Collegiate.
Collegiate reporter Bianca Bower contributed to this article.
