[author: Julie Dominguez, SHRM-CP]*
As we settle into the fall semester of 2025, it’s especially important that colleges, universities, and higher education institutions review and adjust their policies, practices, and programs to ensure they are aligned with today’s rapidly changing landscape.
Fundamentally, higher education institutions have the same mandate as any other organization to eliminate policies that promote “illegal DEI”; however, higher ed institutions may be even more at risk of scrutiny due to federal monitoring of admission criteria. The current Administration has outlined that institutions receiving any federal funds, including student aid such as scholarships and grants, must follow all federal directives or risk losing their funding.
While President Trump rescinded some affirmative action requirements in late January with EO 14173, it’s important to note that adherence to non-discrimination requirements under Section 503 and VEVRAA remain in place, as does EEO reporting.
As colleges, universities and higher ed institutions seek to navigate these new compliance parameters, conversations around compliance must be broad and frequent to ensure best practices are understood and followed across the institution.
To assist with your work in this area, here is a collection of links to blog posts providing guidance for review and consideration as continued compliance efforts are taken:
*HR Consultant
[View source.]
