Americans divided over DEI programmes on college campuses, AP-NORC poll finds

As US President Donald Trump seeks to end diversity, equity and inclusion practices on college campuses, a new poll suggests that while the concept of DEI is divisive, some of the initiatives being affected by his administration's guidance are less controversial.

The poll, conducted earlier this month by The Associated Press-NORC Centre for Public Affairs Research, found about 4 in 10 Americans “strongly” or “somewhat" favour DEI programmes in colleges and universities, while about 3 in 10 oppose those initiatives and about 3 in 10 are neutral.

Support is higher for courses on racism and scholarships for students of colour, among other services designed to help students from underrepresented groups.

The findings underscore that while “DEI” has become a politically toxic and unpopular term for many Americans, some components of DEI programmes have much less opposition.

This is especially true among Republicans. While about 6 in 10 Republicans oppose DEI programmes broadly, their opposition softens for many of their most common elements.

Just under half of Republicans oppose courses that teach about racism. About one-third oppose scholarships for students from underrepresented groups. And roughly 3 in 10 oppose clubs and mentorship services for those students.

About 7 in 10 Democrats, by contrast, favour DEI programmes on college campuses, with similar shares supporting courses that teach about racism and scholarships or extracurricular support services for students from underrepresented groups.

Divides reflect different views of DEI's meaning

Some of this tension may stem from differing perspectives on what DEI means.

“I'm dead set against DEI,” says poll respondent Robert Ayala, an 81-year-old registered independent who leans Republican. His understanding of DEI is “giving someone a free ride” or hiring people based on their skin colour, as opposed to their skill set.

But Ayala says he fully supports scholarships and mentoring to help disadvantaged students. Ayala, who has Mexican ancestry, grew up poor in rural South Dakota, faced prejudice as a child and lacked career direction.

“If I was offered a scholarship or training or had somebody to guide me, I might have found my way faster,” says Ayala, who spent 22 years in the Navy, then went into contracting and is now retired near Palm Springs, California.

Trump, a Republican, has signed multiple executive orders to eliminate diversity practices in the federal government, private companies and in education, calling them “illegal” and “immoral.” He has threatened to cut federal funding to campuses that defy him. Some of his orders are being challenged in court.

On campuses, students of colour say colleges responding to the new guidance have cut back scholarships, diversity offices and mentors that made them feel welcome on predominantly white campuses.

“Everybody should have the same opportunities as everybody else,” says Stanley Roberts, 61, a registered Republican near Knoxville, Tennessee. He is “somewhat” opposed to the idea of DEI and is “on the fence” about courses that teach about racism because he thinks dwelling on the past creates division.

“What happened 200 years ago or 1,000 years ago shouldn't have happened," he says, "but if everybody would quit talking about it, it would be a whole lot less of a problem.”

White adults are more likely to oppose DEI programmes

The poll shows that white adults are more likely than Black and Hispanic adults to oppose DEI programmes.

Black adults are more likely than US adults overall to favour courses that teach about racism.

“I know this sounds cliche to say, but the reason I favour teaching about racism is so history doesn't repeat itself,” says Nicole Martin, 34, a Black social worker in Idaho Falls, Idaho. “I hear a lot of, 'Oh, just get over it.' But I think, 'OK you don't want to talk about slavery. But we're still talking about the Holocaust and that's OK.'”

The poll found that women are more likely than men to say they support DEI programmes on college campuses, as well as support services for students from underrepresented groups.

“Without DEI, I am not sure there are many chances for understanding other people's experiences,” says Regina Cuddeback, 27, a Democrat in Cortland, New York, who says her support for DEI depends on the context.

Cuddeback does not think race should factor into college admissions but DEI programmes on campuses are “completely fine,” and she does not think the federal government should have a say in the courses colleges offer.

“Students have a right to take the classes they want to take,” says Cuddeback, who is white and a registered Democrat. “For a college to remove a class and say you don't get to learn a certain subject anymore would be pretty abysmal.”