Tulane Shutters DEI Offices After Federal Pressure

The university has faced two civil rights investigations and reversed affirmative action policies in the wake of federal crackdown on diversity initiatives.

Mar. 19, 2026 at 3:03am

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A year after the U.S. Department of Education threatened to strip federal funding from universities over diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices, Tulane University has shuttered several DEI-focused offices and initiatives on campus. The university faced two federal civil rights investigations and reversed its affirmative action admissions policies following the government's pressure.

Why it matters

The fallout from the federal government's actions against DEI programs at universities is still unfolding, with Tulane being one of the most high-profile examples. The closure of DEI offices and loss of safe spaces for marginalized students raises concerns about the university's commitment to inclusion and belonging on campus.

The details

In March 2025, Tulane replaced its Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion with the Office of Academic Excellence and Opportunity. The university also quietly dissolved the Office of Gender and Sexual Diversity, moving its programs to the Carolyn Barber-Pierre Center for Intercultural Life. Soon after, Tulane shuttered its Office of Multicultural Affairs without announcement. All online traces of these DEI-focused offices have been wiped from Tulane's website and social media.

  • In February 2025, the U.S. Department of Education stated that universities using race-conscious and DEI practices were at risk of losing federal funding.
  • In March 2025, Tulane received letters from the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights stating the university was under investigation.
  • In June 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court reversed its decision on affirmative action, effectively ending race-conscious admissions programs nationwide.
  • In February 2026, the U.S. Department of Education named Tulane on a list of colleges that agreed to end partnerships with The PhD Project, a nonprofit that promotes diversity in graduate programs.
  • In October 2025, Tulane's Queer Student Alliance was informed that their meeting space, the Q Spot, would be closed indefinitely.

The players

Michael Fitts

Tulane University President.

Anneliese Singh

Chief Officer of Tulane's Office of Academic Excellence and Opportunity.

Billy Bernfeld

President of Tulane's Queer Student Alliance.

Kioja Johnson

Vice President of Tulane's Gender Exploration Society and public relations member of the Black Queer Collective.

Michael Strecker

Tulane University spokesperson.

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What they’re saying

“Tulane isn't letting people know what's happening. They have been essentially trying to sweep this under the rug.”

— Billy Bernfeld, President, Tulane Queer Student Alliance

“OGSD was the one place that students felt they could authentically be themself and with the closing of that it sends a clear message about who belongs here and who doesn't. This is a time where students' rights are under attack, and instead of offering them support, they snatch the one space that they have on campus from us.”

— Kioja Johnson, Vice President, Tulane Gender Exploration Society; Public Relations Member, Tulane Black Queer Collective

“We foster a community in which everyone, including first-generation students, veterans and people of different races, nationalities and faiths have an equal opportunity to achieve their dreams and contribute to our mission. We create new ideas and breakthroughs because we are home to Tulanians from numerous perspectives and walks of life who engage in the widest fields of inquiry and work within a vast variety of disciplines and departments.”

— Michael Strecker, Tulane University Spokesperson

What’s next

The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights is expected to release a final report on its investigation into Tulane's handling of alleged antisemitic incidents by the end of this year.

The takeaway

Tulane's dismantling of its DEI infrastructure in the face of federal pressure raises serious concerns about the university's commitment to creating an inclusive campus environment for all students. The loss of dedicated DEI offices and safe spaces for marginalized communities sends a troubling message about who Tulane values and prioritizes.