The recent executive orders focused on diversity, equity and inclusion are affecting Kennesaw State University.
Out of the top research universities in Georgia, Kennesaw State University (KSU) had the highest number of non-white students enrolled in Fall 2024, making up just over half of the campus population.
KSU is known for its inclusivity around the school. There’s a large number of culture, race and gender-focused organizations. The student affairs division has different offices surrounding diversity such as:
- The Women’s Resource Center
- Military and Veteran Services (MVS)
- LGTBQ+ Resource Center
- Hispanic/Latino Outreach (HOLA)
- African American Male Initiative (AAMI)
- Cultural Awareness Resource Center (CARC)
- Global Village
- Unity Center
- Student Engagement and Belonging
These resources have helped cater to Kennesaw’s diverse campus, but with vicious attacks on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), will these resources still be here in the future?
President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order targeting DEI programs and funding for all federal agencies, including the Department of Education. Shortly after, a Dear Colleague Letter was sent out to schools, requiring all K-12, private and higher education to rid of their DEI practices or risk losing federal funding.
The KSU student body has yet to hear any form of communication on exactly how Kennesaw State has interpreted these letters; however, it seems adjustments are already being made.
For example, if you type “Office of Diversity and Inclusion Kennesaw,” in a Google search, a link will pop up taking you to a now cleared page of what used to be the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. This exact site is unable to be found in a search through the KSU website.
The same instance is seen for the Diversity and Inclusion Award for faculty that used to be provided by the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL). A Google search of “diversity and inclusion award Kennesaw,” will preview a website to what looks like a direct link to the awards that now redirects you to CETL’s homepage. The award is also unable to be searched through the KSU website.
It’s important to know that DEI does not only include race. Diversity is about representation of all people who may stem from different backgrounds. That includes class status, gender, religion, those with disabilities, military backgrounds and more. We have student affairs offices because there is a clear need for it at KSU.
For a campus that prides itself for its diversity, there needs to be pushback from the school about the attacks on DEI.
One of the main reasons I transferred to Kennesaw State was because I saw how diverse it was. Coming from an historically black college and university (HBCU), I needed to make sure I felt comfortable.
Seeing KSU secretly wipe websites, take away awards and tell faculty to change their syllabi without any communication to the students about it really changes my perspective on the school.
If “cultivating an inclusive environment that encourages free expression and civil discourse,” is a part of KSU’s mission, then the school needs to be loud and proud about its removal of the mere mention of diversity, equity and inclusion.
