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Virginia Schools Rebrand DEI Programs to Skirt Court Rulings
Colleges accused of 'bad faith noncompliance' with Supreme Court and Trump administration orders against race-based policies.
Published on Mar. 7, 2026
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Despite recent Supreme Court and presidential orders banning divisive diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, colleges and universities in Virginia are continuing to promote such initiatives under different names in an effort to avoid scrutiny. Officials at the University of Virginia and George Mason University have rebranded their DEI offices as programs for "community and belonging" and "access, compliance, and community" respectively, using the same staff and promoting the same policies.
Why it matters
The rebrand of DEI programs at Virginia schools is seen as an attempt to circumvent recent legal and executive actions prohibiting the use of race and ethnicity as factors in hiring, advancement, and college admissions. Critics argue this represents 'bad faith noncompliance' that undermines the intent of the Supreme Court's ruling against racial preferences in college admissions and the Trump administration's executive order banning divisive concepts based on race and sex.
The details
In 2023, the Supreme Court ruled in Students for Fair Admission v. Harvard that using diversity rationales to justify racial preferences in college admissions is discriminatory and unlawful. Additionally, in his first term, former President Trump signed Executive Order 13950 which banned the use of 'divisive concepts' based on race and sex in diversity training programs. However, colleges in Virginia are accused of skirting these rulings by simply renaming their DEI offices and continuing the same policies under different titles.
- In June 2023, the Supreme Court ruled against racial preferences in college admissions in the case Students for Fair Admission v. Harvard.
- In his first term, former President Trump signed Executive Order 13950 banning divisive concepts based on race and sex in diversity training.
The players
University of Virginia
A public research university in Virginia that has rebranded its diversity office as a program for "community and belonging".
George Mason University
A public research university in Virginia that has rebranded its diversity, equity, and inclusion office as the "Office for Access, Compliance, and Community".
Executive Order 13950
A 2020 executive order signed by former President Trump that banned the use of 'divisive concepts' based on race and sex in diversity training programs.
Students for Fair Admission v. Harvard
A 2023 Supreme Court case that ruled diversity rationales for racial preferences in college admissions were discriminatory and unlawful.
What’s next
The article does not mention any specific next steps or future newsworthy events related to this story.
The takeaway
The rebranding of DEI programs at Virginia colleges is seen as an attempt to circumvent recent legal and executive actions prohibiting the use of race and ethnicity as factors in hiring, advancement, and admissions. Critics argue this represents 'bad faith noncompliance' that undermines the intent of the Supreme Court's ruling against racial preferences and the Trump administration's ban on divisive diversity concepts.
