HBCU conference canceled due to anti-DEI executive order

Rutgers University canceled its HBCU conference, said to spotlight HBCU leaders and students, in compliance with President Trump’s anti-Diversity, Equity and Inclusion executive orders scheduled for Jan. 30.

The virtual conference, organized by Rutgers Graduate School of Education’s Center for Minority Serving, a way for students of diverse backgrounds to explore universities, fellowships, workplace development and scholarships catered to diversity and equity initiatives. However, after President Trump announced his “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing” executive order, the event was promptly canceled.

Announced on Jan. 20, the order’s purpose is to coordinate the termination of, “All discriminatory programs, including illegal DEI and ‘diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility’ (DEIA) mandates, policies, programs, preferences, and activities in the Federal Government, under whatever name they appear,” according to the written order.

This ban caused universities nationwide to put a pause on projections, archive hundreds of guidance documents relating to DEI and dismiss DEI employees on a paid administrative leave.

A week later, Executive Director of Rutgers Center for Minority Serving Institutions, Marybeth Gasman, sent an email following the event’s cancellation.

According to Inside Higher Ed, the email read, “We were very excited to bring the HBCUs and Registered Apprenticeship Mini-Conference to you next week. Unfortunately, due to President Trump’s Executive Orders…we have been asked to cease all work under the auspices of the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility HUB at Jobs for the Future, which the U.S. Department of Labor funds.”

However, Rutgers, located in the blue state of New Jersey, has not faced direct pressure from state representatives to cease DEI initiatives. However, the demonstration of power that the federal government has over public university funding and compliance with the left-wing agenda to prevent further tensions could have elicited this response.

“That wariness and sort of pre-emptive compliance, even absent direct threats from the federal or state government, might be somewhat universal,” Michigan State Professor Brendan Cantwell told Inside Higher Ed.

However, in the perpetually changing world of DEI initiatives, what does this mean for HBCUs and the continued strive for diversity?

Newark Mayor and Howard University alum, Ras Baraka claimed Rutgers pulling out of DEI programming is an, “utter failure of courage in the face of political foolishness,” in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. “I call on all private sector partners, responsible corporations, and those who believe in democracy to stand with our institutions against the threat of defunding.”

Rutgers CSMI has played an essential role in contributing to the visibility of HBCUs and minority serving institutions over the past years, and plans to continue to do so.

“Rutgers has been incredibly supportive of our Center, my work as a professor, and throughout this situation,” Gasman said. “We are excited about all our work moving forward, including those related to HBCUs. I have been doing this work for 25 years now, and I’m committed to it, as are our staff, funders, and partners.”