The Trump administration’s effort to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in higher education continues to uncover new questions about how universities have responded to federal and state directives. New documents obtained through public records requests suggest that some medical schools may have continued promoting DEI-related initiatives under different names even after announcing organizational changes.
Connect with others in your state in prayer.
The revelations come as the Department of Education investigates several medical schools over alleged racial discrimination in admissions and as the administration presses colleges to return to merit-based policies. The latest records are likely to fuel continued debate over whether some institutions have merely rebranded DEI offices rather than ending them.
From the Daily Caller:
In another email from April 9, 2025, a UI employee claimed that the university is “not using the term DEI” due to “complex issues surrounding those terms.”
“Thanks for reaching out. We’re still giving talks and leading discussions on What to Say, implicit bias in health care, etc.,” the email says. “I’ve been told that as long as what I’m discussing is related to improving patient care, I’m good to go. We’re not using the term DEI given the complex issues surrounding those terms at the moment.”
“It is sadly unsurprising that medical schools have been caught merely renaming their DEI offices and continuing to push divisive ideology. Despite state laws, executive orders, and growing public distaste for identity politics, the administrators at many medical schools refuse to do away with DEI once and for all,” DNH Chief Medical Officer Dr. Kurt Miceli told the DCNF in a statement. “Carver College of Medicine is ignoring a clear message from Iowans, as well as credible research that shows race-based discrimination does not improve patient outcomes.”
The documents obtained by Do No Harm focus primarily on the University of Iowa’s Carver College of Medicine and Rowan University’s Cooper Medical School. At Iowa, emails indicate that the medical school’s office responsible for access and engagement remained operational despite the university’s broader decision to close its central diversity division. Other communications discussed removing explicit references to “diversity-related accreditation criteria” from public-facing materials while continuing certain educational presentations, provided attendance remained optional under new state requirements.
The records also suggest Rowan University renamed its Office of Diversity and Community Affairs as the Office of Engagement and Community Impact following President Trump’s January executive order aimed at ending what the administration described as illegal discrimination and restoring merit-based opportunity. Meeting notes reportedly indicated that websites would be updated to comply with the executive order while certain student organizations and curricular content would remain unchanged. Neither institution responded to requests for comment on the allegations.
The controversy reflects a broader national debate over the future of DEI initiatives in higher education, particularly in medical schools where critics argue admissions and training should emphasize merit and equal treatment rather than identity-based preferences. Supporters of the administration’s reforms contend that simply changing the names of offices without changing their mission undermines both the spirit of state laws and federal directives. Meanwhile, the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights has launched investigations into several medical schools over alleged racial discrimination in admissions, signaling that scrutiny of these institutions is likely to continue.
For intercessors, this discussion ultimately points to the importance of justice, truth, and impartiality. Scripture teaches that God shows no partiality and calls His people to judge fairly. As universities prepare the next generation of physicians, let’s pray that medical education would prioritize excellence, integrity, and equal treatment for every student and every patient.
Share your prayers and scriptures in the comments.
(Excerpt from the Daily Caller. Photo Credit: Gustavo Fring/Pexels)
