Advancing diversity, equity and inclusion

All students should be able to pursue their education in colleges and universities that reflect and support a diverse student body and workforce. In the wake of anti-DEI legislation that has been proposed and enacted across the country, we are fighting back against extremist attacks that seek to reverse decades of progress toward equity and access to higher education.

To learn more about the AFT and American Association of University Professors’ plan to support and strengthen opportunity for all students, read Pillar II of “A Blueprint for Strengthening and Transforming Higher Education.”

AFT Resources

• AFT Legal Primer: Challenging Divisive Concepts Legislation
• Talking points: Pushing back on anti-DEI efforts and supporting DEI initiatives
• AFT’s Weingarten Slams Supreme Court Ruling Overturning Affirmative Action in College Admissions
• AFT FAQ on Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard and Students for Fair Admissions v. UNC
• AFT Resolution: In Support of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity in Response to the June 2023 Supreme Court Ban on the use of Affirmative Action in College Admissions
• AFT News: Ban on affirmative action is a blow to equity in higher education

Related Resources

• PEN America: America’s Censored Classrooms 2024: Refining the Art of Censorship
• The Higher Ed DEI Navigator
• NCSCBHEP: Anti-Discrimination Clauses in Higher Education Collective Bargaining Agreements
• AAUP Statement: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Criteria for Faculty Evaluation
• AAUP Resource: Diversity in Higher Education
• AAUP Resource: The Right-Wing Attacks on Higher Education: An Analysis of the State Legislative Landscape
• ACLU Report: Affirmative Action in Higher Education
• EdTrust Resource: Affirmative Action in Higher Education: Moving the Conversation Forward