Mississippi lawmakers, spurred by national Republican efforts to ban DEI programs, are pushing to eliminate these initiatives from the state's higher education system. Republican-led legislation seeks to define 'divisive concepts,' regulate academic instruction, and establish legal recourse for students and faculty impacted by DEI programs. While the push faced initial resistance, growing support from lawmakers and national trends indicate a strong possibility of legislation targeting DEI in 2025.
With President Donald Trump pushing for bans on diversity, equity, and inclusion ( DEI ) programs in education, Mississippi lawmakers are aiming to eliminate DEI across the state's higher education system. Republican lawmakers in the Mississippi Legislature have been discussing the issue for months, meeting with university officials to determine the scope of their efforts.
They are grappling with defining what academic concepts constitute 'divisive' and establishing legal recourse for students and faculty who feel wronged by DEI-related initiatives. Supporters of DEI argue that these programs are essential to ensure institutions meet the needs of diverse student populations. Conversely, opponents contend that DEI programs divide people into victim and oppressor categories, exacerbate antisemitism, and promote left-wing ideology in academia. They also argue that these programs can be used as a facade of support for reducing inequality without tangible action. Mississippi lawmakers introduced bills in 2024 to restrict DEI, but they failed to advance beyond committee. However, with national momentum and other Republican-led states implementing DEI bans, Mississippi lawmakers are poised to pass legislation targeting DEI programs in 2025.In the House, Republican Representatives Donnie Scoggin, Joey Hood, and Becky Currie have introduced bills to curtail DEI. Scoggin, Chairman of the House Universities and Colleges Committee, stated that negotiations are ongoing, with Hood's bill being the most likely to proceed. Hood's proposal would eliminate diversity training programs focusing on race, sex, or other federally protected classes and regulate academic instruction, barring universities from offering courses that promote 'divisive concepts,' including 'transgender ideology, gender-neutral pronouns, heteronormativity, gender theory, sexual privilege, or any related formulation of these concepts.' Scoggin expressed the Legislature's aim to craft a 'semi-vague' law to protect universities from legal challenges and state funding cuts, acknowledging the potential for differing interpretations by faculty.After limited discussion at the Capitol in 2024, the push for incorporating DEI restrictions into state law gained momentum when a growing number of lawmakers deemed voluntary university moves to limit DEI insufficient. Scoggin and Senator Nicole Boyd, R-Oxford, the chairwoman of the Senate Universities and Colleges Committee, conveyed to university administrators that DEI programs, excluding those benefiting groups like veterans and disabled students, needed to be scaled back. Both Scoggin and Boyd emphasized their consultation with campus administrators during the drafting of their proposals. Boyd's Senate bill, aiming to regulate DEI, will be the primary vehicle for action as Senator Angela Hill's bill, also focused on DEI, was 'double referred' to two committees, suggesting it may not advance. Boyd's proposal aims to create a confidential complaint and discipline process within universities and community colleges for employees who violate the DEI law, providing a mechanism for students to address concerns without resorting to lawsuits. It also includes provisions for increased data collection on enrollment and graduation rates at state institutions
DEI Diversity Equity Inclusion Mississippi Lawmakers Higher Education Legislation Republican Trump
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