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The Western Association of Schools and Colleges’ Senior College and University Commission may soon drop the terms “diversity, equity and inclusion” from its standards.
After months of rhetoric from President-elect Donald Trump attacking diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives—as well as threats to “fire” accreditors—the Western Association of Schools and Colleges’ Senior College and University Commission is considering dropping DEI language from its standards.
Some critics see the move as an effort to avoid a showdown with the incoming Trump administration over DEI. But the accreditor argues it is simply refining its language to better emphasize student outcomes, in the process dropping a term that has become loaded and therefore distracting.
The proposed changes, published on the WSCUC website, show the accreditor is considering dropping the phrase “diversity, equity and inclusion” and replacing it with “success for all students.” A side-by-side comparison indicates the DEI phrasing could be removed from four current standards.
The accreditor is accepting comments on the proposed revisions through Wednesday; the commission will decide whether and when to implement the change on Dec. 17.
A Loaded Term
WSCUC officials have said the proposed changes to its standards are based on feedback that showed “an interest in greater clarity regarding WSCUC’s expectations for excellence and student success,” according to a statement posted on the accreditor’s website late last month.
“To ensure that the Standards are easy to understand and apply in practice, WSCUC proposes to refine the language pertaining to success for all students, moving from broad concepts to specific actions that better enable institutions to demonstrate progress in supporting achievement across their entire student population,” the statement reads. “The refined language enhances the Standards’ clarity and focus while retaining their original intent and foundational principles.”
In an interview with Inside Higher Ed, outgoing WSCUC president Jamienne S. Studley said the move was driven by institutional feedback and a “deepening conversation” about the terms “diversity, equity and inclusion.”
“The words ‘DEI’ have become a flash point,” Studley said. “The commission’s proposal reflects the idea that we want to direct our effort towards student success” and be clear about emphasizing student outcomes.
The move will “let us concentrate on what is important and not engage over wording,” Studley added, noting that controversy over the term “was a further reason, but not the leading reason to say, ‘Let’s say what we really need. Let’s go to the heart of the matter. You must organize to assure that all of your students can succeed through the program’s investments and activities of your institution.’”
WSCUC’s potential changes come amid mounting criticism of DEI efforts by conservative activists and lawmakers; multiple states have passed—or threatened to pass—legislation compelling colleges to shutter programs designed to promote equity and inclusion for underrepresented students. Such initiatives are likely to face additional scrutiny going forward, given Trump’s frequent attacks on DEI from the campaign trail. (The president-elect has reportedly sought out the perspective of anti-DEI activists ahead of taking office.)
The proposed WSCUC change appears to mirror what many universities have done: drop DEI language and reframe such efforts under the broad “student success” umbrella. Some, such as the University of Arkansas, have closed DEI offices without a legislative mandate, dissolving those offerings into other offices like human resources and student success.
‘Do Not Obey in Advance’
Jackie Gardina, dean and chief academic officer of the Colleges of Law, a WSCUC peer reviewer and a member of its Substantive Change Committee, raised concerns on social media after an online meeting to discuss the change to standards, which she called “disappointing.”
In an email to Inside Higher Ed, she argued the change would be a troubling misstep.
First, she noted, “there is no Executive Order, agency rule, or statute that requires the change.” The proposed revision runs counter to the “first rule for combating tyranny—do not obey in advance.” Gardina added that the accreditor “joins a long list of higher education institutions unwilling to advocate for the importance of DEI initiatives. Love them or hate them, DEI initiatives acknowledged the long-standing inequities in higher education and the systemic barriers that exist for students from underrepresented and marginalized communities.”
Others have expressed similar concerns. Jeremy Young, the Freedom to Learn program director for the free expression group PEN America, argued that the accreditor is “bowing to political pressure and abandoning its nonpartisan mission to uphold the quality and autonomy of higher education institutions,” according to a comment he sent to the commission that was published online Friday.
He expressed concern that WSCUC was “complying with ideological restrictions before the government actually imposes them,” adding that “these changes are likely to inspire similar standards changes at other accreditation bodies, effectively bringing about the sectorwide changes lawmakers seek to impose without the administration actually having to mandate them legally.” Member institutions in states where DEI is facing scrutiny may “find it more difficult to defend themselves against further legislative attacks on their autonomy,” he said.
But some experts took a different view. Paul Gaston III, an emeritus Trustees Professor at Kent State University who has authored books about accreditation and other education topics, said the accreditor’s move was understandable.
“Because ‘Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion’ have become trigger words, I see nothing wrong with reaffirming the values they represent through language that avoids using them. I find the ‘refined’ language employed by WSCUC to be just that. The expectations expressed by the refined standards are no less clear without the use of a phrase that has become a stumbling block for some,” Gaston wrote by email.
He also suggested it was likely such changes would have been put forward regardless of the election results, given all the proposed state legislation targeting DEI offices and statements.
