University Responses to Trump Administration Mandates

Wake Forest University and University of North Carolina at Greensboro

I teach sociology at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and my wife is on the nursing faculty at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. We’ve both been getting communications from our respective administrations about how they are responding to mandates from the Trump administration, particularly around issues of diversity and inclusion.

Following are the text of letters we have recently received. It is interesting to note the difference between my private university and my wife’s public university.

Wake Forest University (3/17/25)

Dear Wake Forest community,

Welcome back from spring break. We hope each of you found time for the people and activities that bring you strength and joy. As we return to the daily routines of University life, we write to share how we continue to address the changes coming from the new administration in Washington, D.C., and the impact on higher education.

During the past two months, many Wake Forest students, staff, faculty and alumni, along with members of our neighboring communities and thousands of people across the U.S., have experienced life-changing interruptions. We cannot predict the long-range impacts on higher education, but we can expect additional executive orders, guidance from federal agencies, and other changes at the federal and state levels. During this period of uncertainty, it is important to affirm our shared Wake Forest commitments.

While we continue to do our work in compliance with applicable laws and regulations,

• We will uphold Wake Forest’s mission.

• We will champion Wake Forest students, faculty and staff in their learning, academic ambitions, research, scholarly pursuits, creative endeavors and professional journeys.

• We will advance our collective understanding and promotion of academic freedom and free expression.

• We will embrace all people, recognizing that education for all and research to benefit all are vital to advancing knowledge for the greater good.

• We will support our alumni in their lifelong pursuit of learning, including those impacted by recent federal changes, with career counseling and transition workshops.

• We will serve the broader communities in which we live, work and learn.

Let’s unite together in support of these shared commitments and in our shared purpose and values.

Since January, Wake Forest leadership has actively and continuously engaged our elected officials, peer institutions, and associations to anticipate, understand and respond to federal actions. We established a cross-functional government affairs steering committee, guided by legal counsel, to provide us with updates and recommendations and to coordinate activity. We will continue to update those most directly impacted across the university in small-group meetings and issue-specific communications. This website also provides contact information and timely updates.

Our most important priority in these times of uncertainty is our people. We care about your academic and professional success and your personal wellbeing. Please let us know how we can support you.

Sincerely,

Susan R. Wente

President

Michele Gillespie

Provost

Jackie Travisano

Executive Vice President

University of North Carolina at Greensboro (3/7/25)

Dear faculty colleagues,

I am writing to follow up on my February 12th message that was sent to all faculty addressing federal and UNC System directives related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts in higher education. I know that many of you have questions and concerns about how these changes affect our teaching, research, and student support. I deeply appreciate your patience as we navigate this complex and evolving landscape together.

Over the past several weeks, we have implemented changes to comply with these directives, while remaining true to our shared values. Given the mandated timeline, we were required to enact these changes quickly, often in response to evolving information. I recognize that this has made it very difficult to provide timely updates, and I am grateful for your understanding.

I want to share updated information on several key areas, including opportunities for further discussion and collaboration (see details on a forum below).

Curricular Updates

We’ve had to make some changes to our curriculum based on federal and UNC System directives. These changes affect both general education requirements and major-specific requirements.

1. General Education Requirements:

• Thanks to the hard work of the Faculty Senate leadership, the Diversity and Equity competency in our general education program has been replaced with a new competency, as required by the UNC System Office’s February 5, 2025, directive, a change that has now been approved by Faculty Senate and the Chancellor.

• The resulting new competency aims to prepare students for engaged citizenship in a more meaningful way.

• Students already enrolled in courses that were part of the Diversity and Equity competency have the option to either stay in the course as an elective or withdraw without any penalty.

• As we approach Spring Break, we’ve noticed that very few students have withdrawn from these courses.

  2. Major-Specific Requirements:

• In keeping with the mandate, we also reviewed required courses with DEI-related content in all academic programs (both undergraduate and graduate). This was accomplished first by way of a keyword search on the entire catalog. The resulting list was then reviewed by the deans, Academic Affairs, and the Office of Institutional Integrity and General Counsel.

• After vetting, we believe that only a small number of courses on the list require action in the form of course/curricular revision or a waiver from the Chancellor.

• Final details about waivers will be communicated soon.

Research Updates

There have been several changes recently in federal funding related to specific funding and projects. Faculty and Research Scholars whose research may be affected have already been contacted by the Office of Research and Engagement. Vice Chancellor Obare and her team are working closely with these faculty members to provide support. If you are unsure whether your research is impacted, please reach out to your Grants Specialist in the Office of Sponsored Programs or Vice Chancellor Obare directly. Our priority is to ensure you have the guidance and assistance you need.

Website Updates

We have engaged in an audit of content on our website to address any areas that may be out of compliance with federal and UNC System directives. Our focus has been on the content of administrative webpages, such as the main webpages for schools/colleges, departments, and programs. We have collaborated with the unit deans and the Office of Institutional Integrity and General Counsel in identifying suitable modifications to website language.

Supporting the academic freedom of our faculty is a top priority for us. Our modifications to website content have not involved areas protected under academic freedom, such as webpages devoted to faculty scholarly and creative activities.

Faculty Forum

To foster open communication and provide an opportunity for dialogue, information sharing, and answering questions, the Office of the Provost, in collaboration with the Faculty Senate, is hosting an open forum in late March or early April. This event will be an opportunity for faculty members to engage with administrators from the Office of the Provost and with the General Counsel. The forum is designed to provide a space for open dialogue, where faculty members can ask questions, voice concerns, and share insights. Details of the forum are forthcoming.

As we continue to receive new guidance, we will keep you informed. Your commitment and feedback are invaluable as we work through these challenges together.

While we continue to be responsive to the shifting landscape, we remain steadfast in our commitment to the success of our students and the vibrancy of our academic community.

Best,

J. Alan Boyette, Ph.D.
Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor