How Colleges Extend the Reach of Anti-DEI Laws

Across the country, colleges and universities continue to grapple with newly proposed or enacted laws and policies restricting diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. In fact, since 2023 more than 150 such bills have been introduced in states across the country.

Much of the public debate focuses on what these directives explicitly prohibit. But our research shows that some of the most far-reaching consequences are not written into these laws or policies at all. They are produced through the processes universities use to comply with them.