In response, Georgia NAACP President Gerald Griggs said his organization is requesting a meeting with university leaders about their decision to end the DEI programs.
“The Georgia NAACP is gravely concerned about Emory University’s decision to restructure its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs,” Griggs said in a statement on social media. “While we acknowledge Emory’s stated commitment to fairness and belonging, these changes raise serious questions about how students, faculty, and staff—particularly from marginalized communities—will be supported moving forward.”
Interim President Leah Ward Sears wrote in a message to the Emory community that the university made the decision for legal reasons. Sears cited recent federal laws and mandates that “require higher education institutions to alter fundamentally or even close offices and programs focused on DEI.”
-
- Federal directive: In April 2025, the U.S. Department of Education issued a directive ordering the removal of DEI programs from schools and universities, threatening the loss of federal funding for non-compliance.
- State policy changes: In November 2024, the USG’s Board of Regents passed regulations to restrict DEI across all 26 of its institutions. These changes included banning the use of diversity statements in hiring and admissions and mandating institutional neutrality on political issues.
- Pending legislation: In early 2025, the Georgia Senate passed House Bill 127, which sought to ban DEI programs in public schools and universities statewide. Although the bill initially failed to pass before the session ended, it signaled strong political intent to dismantle DEI initiatives.
- University-level actions: In line with these changes, institutions like Georgia Tech began removing DEI-related terminology and program listings from their websites in early 2025. Similarly, in September 2025, Emory University, though a private institution, announced its decision to discontinue DEI programs and offices.
