Editor’s Note: This article, originally published March 19, 2025, has been updated to reflect another instance which occurred Feb. 24, 2025 that Technician was notified of after publication.
Recent years have seen a significant shift in diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in the United States, specifically in higher education. Many institutional protections of DEI have been successfully challenged, resulting in the dismantling of DEI initiatives in universities across the country.
This is a timeline of those changes and how they have affected operations and programs at NC State and the broader UNC System.
June 29, 2023: Supreme Court overturns affirmative action
One of the first major national shifts in DEI initiatives was the Supreme Court’s reversal of affirmative action in Students for Fair Admissions v. University of North Carolina on June 29, 2023.
The case was close to home as the court deemed that UNC-Chapel Hill’s race-conscious admissions process, in addition to Harvard’s, was unconstitutional. NC State released a statement acknowledging the landmark decision.
“The Court’s decision is complex, and NC State, along with the UNC System, is currently reviewing the ruling and its potential impacts. NC State will of course follow the law,” the statement read. “NC State has every intention of continuing our critical public land-grant university tradition of admitting and serving talented and ambitious students from across North Carolina and beyond.”
In February of 2024, Director of Graduate Admissions Lindsay Gentile said the biggest change for her office came in the form of adjusting the personal statement prompt that asked how someone’s experiences might help shape diversity on campus. Gentile also said information about an applicant’s race also had to be shielded from the person reviewing the application.
May 23, 2024: Board of Governors repeals UNC System DEI policy
The UNC System Board of Governors voted to repeal the System’s DEI policy “Regulation on Diversity and Inclusion Within the University of North Carolina” on May 23, 2024, that it followed since 2019.
The Board subsequently passed “Equality Within the University of North Carolina,” which stated that universities needed to report their compliance “commitment to institutional neutrality and nondiscrimination required by law” to UNC System President Peter Hans by Sept. 1, 2024, and include “a report on reductions in force and spending, along with changes to job titles and position descriptions, undertaken as a result of implementing this policy.”
“The University of North Carolina will continue serving students of all backgrounds and beliefs,” Hans said in a statement. “There is broad and deep commitment to that goal, and support for the UNC System’s longstanding efforts to reflect the diversity of North Carolina. We have well-established laws and policies that prohibit discrimination, protect equal opportunity and require a safe and supportive learning environment for all students. We will uphold those responsibilities.”
Students from across North Carolina protested outside of the meeting, including Naila Din, then-second-year studying microbiology and chair of the NC State Student Senate Standing Committee on Diversity, Inclusion and Outreach. Two protestors were arrested by NC State University Police at the meeting.
Aug. 1, 2024: NC State renames Office of Institutional Equity and Diversity
In accordance with the UNC System’s repeal of the 2019 DEI policy, NC State announced it would rename the Office of Institutional Equity and Diversity. On Aug. 1, 2024, Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Warwick Arden notified the campus community that the office would be renamed to the Office of Institutional Equity and Equal Opportunity.
The announcement also noted the relocation of four campus community centers — the African American Cultural Center, the LGBTQ Pride Center, Multicultural Student Affairs and the Women’s Center — from OIED to the Division of Academic and Student Affairs.
On Aug. 16, 2024, Arden issued a statement on further changes to the office, announcing it would once again be renamed to the Office of Equal Opportunity. He also announced the University’s suspension of DEI-related trainings.
Sept. 1, 2024: NC State eliminates eight staff positions, realigns 29
Following the UNC System’s Sept. 1, 2024 deadline, Chancellor Randy Woodson submitted a report certifying NC State’s commitment to institutional neutrality and nondiscrimination. To comply with the new policy, Woodson noted 29 DEI-related staff positions that would be realigned — most of any UNC System school — and eight positions that would be eliminated. The changes saved the University a total of $4,909,053 according to the report.
Realignments included shifting all Campus Community Center employees to the Division of Academic and Student Affairs and renamings such as the “College of Natural Resources Associate Dean For Diversity, Equity and Inclusion” to “Associate Dean for College Culture and Community” and “College of Engineering Assistant Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion” to “Assistant Dean for Equality, Wellbeing and Engagement.”
Feb. 5, 2025: UNC System suspends DEI-related mandated course credits
The UNC System sent a memo to chancellors on Feb. 5 informing them that any mandated course credits related to diversity, equity or inclusion were suspended effective immediately due to President Donald Trump’s Jan. 21 executive order, “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity.”
“Accordingly, effective immediately, all general education requirements and major-specific requirements mandating completion of course credits related to diversity, equity and inclusion, or any other topic identified in Section VII of the Equality Policy are suspended,” the memo read. “Inclusion of these and other synonymous general education requirements may contradict the Jan. 21 EO directive to ‘[e]xcise references to DEI and DEIA principles, under whatever name they may appear.’ (Jan. 21 EO, Sec. 3)(emphasis added). DEI requirements of the same substance, but identified by a different name, could further jeopardize federal funding.”
The System clarified the directive did not apply to course content or elective courses, only that universities could not require a DEI-related course to be completed for graduation.
Feb. 10, 2025: NC State suspends U.S. DEI GEP requirement
Upon receiving the directive, Arden informed the campus community on Feb. 10 that the University’s U.S. DEI GEP was no longer required to graduate so as to comply with the memo.
“Please note that the courses currently offered in the U.S. DEI GEP category will still be available as electives or as a recommended major course,” Arden wrote. “Students may still choose to take these courses based on their academic interests.”
Students protested the decision on Feb. 12. Tremiyah Wilford, a third-year studying animal science, said no longer requiring a DEI course fails to see the value of DEI in education.
“Diversity, equity and inclusion are not optional,” Wilford said. “They are necessary. DEI courses are not electives, they are requirements because learning about different cultures, perspectives and histories is essential to a complete education. Without DEI, our education is dishonest, incomplete and unjust.”
Feb. 20, 2025: NC State cuts pre-college programs for minority high school students
The Nubian Message reported NC State would end its pre-college mentorship programs for minority high school students, including CAMINOS, Emerging Scholars Academy and the Native Education Forum, in the summer of 2025.
Isabella Lerma Rios, a third-year studying business administration, told The Nubian Message the elimination of the programs was a major loss.
“CAMINOS gave me the confidence, guidance and community I needed to navigate the college admissions process, and as a mentor, I saw firsthand how it did the same for so many other Latinx students,” Rios said. “It wasn’t just about applications; it was about feeling seen, supported and empowered to pursue higher education.”
Feb. 24, 2025: Provost directs faculty to remove mention of DEI from websites
Faculty received an email from Provost Warwick Arden directing them to remove all references to diversity, equity or inclusion from their websites.
“We will begin making the changes at the university level immediately and I ask you to do the same at unit level websites,” Arden wrote. “To be clear, I need all references to Diversity, Equity and/or Inclusion deleted from your website and replaced with the alternate language this week.”
In a follow-up email Feb. 28, the Provost’s Chief of Staff and Director of Projects and Planning Kelly Wick asked leaders of the Division of Enrollment Management and Services, Office for Faculty Excellence, Office of Global Engagement, NC State Continuing and Lifelong Education, DELTA, Office of Outreach and Engagement, NC State University Libraries and Institute for Emerging Issues to confirm they had updated their websites by the end of the day.
Wick said the Office of Assessment and Accreditation, Office of Budget and Business Operations, Office of Equal Opportunity, Institutional Strategy and Analysis, Office of Instructional Programs and Office of University Interdisciplinary Programs websites had already been reviewed and updated by the Provost’s Office.
Feb. 26, 2025: NC State revises strategic plan, removes mentions of DEI
NC State quietly revised its “Wolfpack 2030: Powering the Extraordinary” plan to remove language mentioning DEI. Woodson and Arden notified staff and faculty of the revisions in an email, stating that the changes aim to ensure NC State remains “a place where all feel a sense of community and opportunity.”
Goal 4 of the plan previously read “Champion a culture of equity, diversity, inclusion, belonging and well-being in all we do.” The revised goal reads “Champion a culture of equality, belonging and well-being in all we do.” The revision removed mention of “institutionalized inequality” and a commitment to creating “systemic change.”
“Therefore, as an institution, we must ensure an equitable, accessible and welcoming environment so all members of the Wolfpack community — especially those in underserved populations — feel respected, valued and a sense of belonging in every corner of campus,” the goal formerly read. “We will work to ensure diverse perspectives are embraced at all levels, in all processes and through all decisions.”
“Therefore, as an institution, we must provide an accessible and empowering environment so all members of the Wolfpack community feel equally respected, valued and supported in every corner of campus,” the goal currently reads. “We will work to ensure a range of perspectives are embraced at all levels, in all processes and through all decisions.”
March 4, 2025: NC State ends identity-based living and learning villages
The Nubian Message reported NC State would discontinue the living and learning villages Black Male Initiative in Avent Ferry Complex and Native Space in Alexander Hall after spring of 2025. University spokesperson Mick Kulikowski told The Nubian Message the decision was “part of the University’s ongoing review of compliance with executive actions issued by the federal government and UNC System policy.”
Izayah Horne, a third-year studying agricultural business, said removing DEI goes against American culture.
“I feel that it is very inconsiderate and very unfair,” Horne told The Nubian Message. “BMI provided a safe space for all people involved and acted as a great community partner on campus. … This should not be happening.”
