Some States Want to Ban DEI in Higher Ed. These States Want to Require It.

As colleges’ diversity efforts face possible bans in some states, lawmakers in others are doing the opposite: They’re aiming to affirm these programs through legislation. Proposals this year in Massachusetts, New York, and New Jersey present a striking contrast to what’s happening in other states, where lawmakers have debated defunding diversity efforts, prohibiting diversity training, and banning critical race theory, among other restrictions. At least 29 bills have been introduced in 17 states so far that would affect diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.