Fewer Universities Require DEI Pledges From Faculty Candidates, Report Says

While schools appear to be reducing DEI as per Trump’s policies, viewpoint diversity in academia remains underemphasized, Heterodox Academy reports.

University of Michigan students pass signage on campus displaying the university's Core Values in Ann Arbor, Mich., on April 3, 2025. Bill Pugliano/Getty Images

Requests related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) for faculty job candidates in higher education have decreased dramatically—at least on paper—since President Donald Trump began his second term, a new report from Heterodox Academy says.

This includes the removal of required pledges in cover letters or standalone essays regarding a commitment to DEI. Eleven percent of college and university faculty job listings specified such requirements between August and December of 2025, a decline from 25 percent the previous year, the April 21 report said.