All mandated DEI courses have been suspended at the system’s 16 schools.
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — The University of North Carolina (UNC) system is making a major change to its curriculum, suspending all mandatory Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) course requirements at its 16 schools. This decision comes in response to a new executive order from President Trump and aims to ensure the university remains eligible for federal funding.
Why the Change?
The executive order, titled Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity, was issued on January 21, 2025. It places new restrictions on federal contracts, requiring institutions to certify that they do not operate DEI programs that it deems in violation of federal anti-discrimination laws. Schools that fail to comply risk losing federal funding and potential enforcement actions.
For UNC, this is a big deal. Federal research funding makes up about 62% of the university’s research budget—more than $1.4 billion—and accounts for roughly 13% of its overall budget.
What’s Changing?
To comply with the order, UNC is immediately suspending all mandatory DEI course requirements. Here’s what that means:
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General education DEI requirements are eliminated.
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Major-specific DEI course requirements are also suspended, but chancellors can approve waivers in certain cases.
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DEI-focused courses can still be offered, but they’ll now be electives rather than required classes.
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Students currently enrolled in affected courses can either stay in them or withdraw without penalty.
What Does This Mean for Students and Faculty?
While this decision removes DEI requirements, faculty members still have full academic freedom to teach and research these topics. University officials also say they’re working on long-term solutions to navigate the changing federal regulations while maintaining academic integrity.
All enrollment processes will be adjusted accordingly, and university leadership is closely monitoring the impact of these changes.
Looking Ahead
This policy shift reflects a broader national debate over DEI programs in higher education. The UNC Board of Governors, which had already put policies in place emphasizing institutional neutrality, will oversee the transition.
For now, chancellors have been directed to implement these changes immediately. Any legal or academic questions about the new policy are being handled by UNC system leadership as the university moves forward under the new federal guidelines.
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