The University of Wyoming has recently faced several challenges regarding funding for several of its grants due to the Trump Administration’s targeting of DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) related programs and general presence in academia.
For the most part, the University of Wyoming has been well equipped to handle these changes, having already been ahead of the curve in comparison to many universities due to the Wyoming legislation’s termination of the University’s DEI program last year. However, certain programs and grants have still been affected, and as the landscape regarding executive orders and further state action is still incredibly volatile, university administrators are looking for ways to best navigate the situation.
This all started with a “dear colleague,” letter sent out by the Department of Education to several universities across the country, which stated rather plainly the goals of the current administration in regards to higher academia. The first part read,
“In recent years, American educational institutions have discriminated against students on the basis of race, including white and Asian students, many of whom come from disadvantaged backgrounds and low-income families. These institutions’ embrace of pervasive and repugnant race-based preferences and other forms of racial discrimination have emanated throughout every facet of academia. For example, colleges, universities, and K-12 schools have routinely used race as a factor in admissions, financial aid, hiring, training, and other institutional programming. In a shameful echo of a darker period in this country’s history, many American schools and universities even encourage segregation by race at graduation ceremonies and in dormitories and other facilities.”
In addition to the executive branch’s actions, recent legislation at the state level is already affecting programs at the university. HB0147 “Prohibition of Institutional Discrimination,” a bill that was recently allowed to pass into law by Governor Mark Gordon, prevents any institutional discrimination based on race or sex, which has made both the Women in STEM programs as well as this summer’s Latina Youth Conference likely illegal under Wyoming state law. Student clubs, however, will remain unaffected, as they are not technically university administered organizations.
When two anonymous students were questioned about their thoughts regarding this at a lunch table in the Student Union, one stated “Well, I just hope that things can get running smoothly again. I’m not super political, but it seems like there’s been a lot of upheaval.”
As the University of Wyoming continues to adapt to these rapidly shifting political and legal pressures, administrators seemingly remain cautiously optimistic and are finding ways to continue teaching at a high level while complying with both state and federal law. With further executive action and legislation likely to be close on the horizon, the future of programs aimed at supporting DEI-adjacent groups remains highly uncertain.
