Republican lawmakers in the North Carolina Senate are advancing a bill that would ban the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion agenda in the state’s public higher education institutions. The latest move aligns with a broader conservative effort to dismantle DEI initiatives in public institutions across the state.
Supporters of Senate Bill 558 argue that DEI programs create division, stifle individual thought, and place identity politics above academic merits.
“Rather than focusing on academic excellence, critical thinking, and the free exchange of ideas, these discriminatory practices have divided our campuses, our students, and our faculty,” said Sen. Brad Overcash, R-Gaston, during a meeting of the Senate Higher Education Committee on Wednesday.
Under the measure, public colleges and universities would be required to eliminate offices and staff dedicated to DEI initiatives. The bill prohibits promoting “divisive concepts,” such as the idea of systemic racism or moral culpability based on race or gender. Institutions would be barred from requiring faculty, staff, or students to affirm any DEI-based beliefs. Additionally, SB 558 would eliminate processes for reporting incidents described as “offensive or unwanted speech.”
Similar legislation has been on the move in the General Assembly in recent weeks. House Bill 171 would bar state agencies from promoting, supporting, funding, or maintaining DEI programs, including in hiring, staffing, or training. Meanwhile, Senate Bill 227 aims to remove DEI offices, staff, and divisive concepts from schools,ensuring education focuses on core curriculum without promoting ideologies deemed inconsistent with equality.
Opponents of SB 558, such as Sen. Caleb Theodros, D-Mecklenburg, worry that its language is overly vague, leaving room for problematic implementation. Critics also argue that banning DEI programs could stifle academic freedom and limit the ability of institutions to promote diversity.
Reighlah Collins of the ACLU of North Carolina raised concerns that the bill would harm student recruitment and lead to a chilling effect on university curricula.
“Institutions of higher education must remain places where academic freedom thrives,” Collins said. “Censoring disfavored viewpoints undermines the very foundation of intellectual exploration.”