VIRGINIA NEWS – 23 Community colleges in Virginia end DEI practices

Laila Kirkpatrick, Staff Writer

Virginia’s 23 community colleges will now all be required to eliminate their policies that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) to comply with federal regulations. The decisions by the Virginia Community College System’s State Board are a direct response to President Trump’s executive order that eliminates DEI initiatives, which are designed to overcome historic inequities and discrimination that blocked progress for minorities and women. 

The Trump Administration has also warned colleges and universities to end race-based decision-making or risk losing federal funding, which many institutions rely on to cover Pell Grants and the federal student loan program. VCCS State Board Chair Terri Thompson said, “Adopting a resolution to affirm our values and compliance with recent guidance on discrimination and merit-based opportunity and amending language in our policies and strategic plan are critical necessary actions to ensure federal funding for Virginia’s Community Colleges is not compromised.” She went on to say, “It is our continued ability to provide students with high-quality educational and training opportunities that are at the heart of our mission.”