The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has announced that it will discontinue its Office of Community and Equity and eliminate the associated vice president position, following an extensive evaluation of its diversity initiatives. This decision follows a months-long assessment led by former Vice President Karl Reid and occurs amid a federal investigation into alleged race-exclusionary practices at MIT and 44 other universities.
The Trump administration has targeted universities with an executive order prohibiting certain diversity policies and threatened to revoke accreditation and federal research funding tied to compliance.
MIT has sued the government to regain billions of dollars in federal funding that the Trump administration has withheld due to non-compliance with government policy requirements. Meanwhile, President Sally Kornbluth has confirmed that the university will continue to promote diversity through alternative campus initiatives.
MITโs closure of the DEI office reflects broader university adjustments to federal restrictions and ongoing efforts to attract talented individuals from diverse backgrounds while complying with current policy requirements.
