Princeton Stays Committed to Diversity and Inclusion Amid Subtle Changes

More than 400 colleges across the United States have eliminated or rebranded their diversity, equity, and inclusion programs since January 2023, according to The Chronicle of Higher Education, responding to President Donald Trump’s executive orders and actions by the U.S. Department of Education. Princeton has taken a more measured approach, adopting subtle changes while saying it remains committed to diversity initiatives.

Michele Minter, the vice provost for institutional equity and diversity, told PAW that the Office of Diversity and Inclusion is trying “to keep moving forward in a sensible, responsible, thoughtful way.”

“But everything is interpreted, so we have to do a better job of communicating about how our values are unchanged, but also why things might seem to be shifting in small ways,” she said.

While Princeton has not laid off any personnel in diversity and inclusion roles, other universities, such as Florida State and nearly all public institutions in North Carolina, have eliminated or reassigned jobs. Many have also made changes to or dismantled offices or departments and ended diversity training for employees. Princeton removed a diversity and inclusion question from its annual employee evaluation form.

One visible change at Princeton was the removal or alteration of several tabs on the “Inclusive Princeton” website. Pages such as “Our Commitment to Diversity,” “Transgender and Non-Binary Inclusivity,” “HBCU/MCI Partnerships,” and “Resources” have been taken down.

According to Minter, the update was meant to move away from a “maximalist” approach, where she said that many pages were outdated or had broken links. “We were overdue [for website revisions], and have now switched to a much more minimalist approach, which is a lot easier to maintain for us.” She said some of the eliminated pages are being redesigned to make resources more accessible and easier to navigate. Many University sites have added a statement on diversity and nondiscrimination, which explains that diversity and inclusion programs are “voluntary and open to all” and “comply with federal and state non-discrimination laws.”

Minter also discussed the doxxing that members of the University community and students on campuses across the country have faced, particularly during the war in Gaza and since Trump returned to office. In 2023, names and titles of employees in Minter’s office were shared on X, and several received threatening messages. The University recently moved campus directory information behind login credentials.

“We have definitely seen doxxing and social media harassment of people on our campus, of employees in some cases, also of activists,” Minter said. She added that her office provides a cyber harassment toolkit and monitors cases in real time to help those targeted.

Since Minter assumed her role in 2011, she said, Princeton has “made much deeper commitments and investments” in diversity and inclusion, adding staff positions, expanding educational programming, and strengthening compliance offices that enforce anti-discrimination and accessibility policies under federal and state laws.

Minter highlighted the work of the Gender and Sexuality Resource Center (GSRC) and the Carl A. Fields Center, as they promote a sense of belonging on campus while navigating the shifting political pressure as well as budget cuts affecting all areas of the University. Schools across the country, including the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Alabama, have shut down their LGBTQ+ centers.

Travis Tucker, assistant dean and director of the Fields Center, and April Callis, assistant dean and director of the GSRC, emphasized the importance of creating an affirming campus community along with building meaningful partnerships. They explained that while some events have had less boba and snacks due to budget restrictions, the missions of their offices have not changed. “The last few months have made our work much more intentional,” Tucker said, in relation to where the offices are allocating their funds.

Callis said it’s essential that students feel welcomed and know that the campus is open to everyone. “When I think about the work that we do, I go back to this framing that I’ve used for maybe the last 20 years of my life, that all of our initiatives … and programs are providing windows and mirrors,” she said. “They provide mirrors for individuals to see themselves reflected in our community … and windows that they can look out to see other ways of life. You have to be doing both.”

Tucker has been working with a group led by him, the Undergraduate Student Government (USG), and Shawn Maxam, associate provost for institutional diversity and inclusion, to provide “support and care for students and their understandings around what it looks like to work alongside students or work alongside staff members to build change.”

Brian Mhando ’26, the diversity, equity, and inclusion chair for USG, told PAW that the group consists of about 20 representatives, including students, staff from the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, and other administrators, who discuss issues such as the impact of campus expansion.

“I realized the best way to really improve student and administrator relationships was through working together” and brainstorming with Tucker and Maxam, Mhando said.

Mhando collaborated with the Center for Jewish Life and Rochelle Calhoun, vice president for campus life, to provide free meals during Passover for students in need of financial assistance and is currently working to make prayer mats more accessible and expand representation in the McGraw Center for Teaching and Learning. Throughout his term, he has prioritized connecting with affinity group leaders across campus.

“Diversity, equity, and inclusion is diversity, equity, and inclusion for everyone,” Mhando said. “I’ve met with everyone, including people I don’t agree with, and I still try my best to help those people, and I’ll continue to always do that.”

Callis said that although the GSRC and the Fields Center are sometimes perceived as apart from the University, “we are here because of the University.”

“I would love for the community to know how supported we are,” Callis said.