On January 23, 2025, Rutgers University announced that it would cancel the virtual “HBCUs and Registered Apprenticeship Mini-Conference” following President Trump’s executive orders on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

The virtual conference was to be hosted by the Rutgers University Center for Minority Serving Institutions and sponsored by Jobs for the Future, an organization with a goal of supporting colleges and workplaces in creating equitable economic outcomes. The conference would have featured panelists speaking about improved access to registered internships for underrepresented groups.

On January 23, Rutgers emailed the conference’s registered attendees to announce the event’s cancellation. The email stated, “Unfortunately, due to President Trump’s Executive Orders … we have been asked to cease all work under the auspices of the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility HUB at Jobs for the Future, which the U.S. Department of Labor funds.”

Scholars at Risk is concerned about ideologically driven, government encroachments on universities’ authority to make decisions concerning personnel, admissions, curricula, and the establishment of particular programs. Such actions undermine university autonomy and inhibit institutions’ ability to function freely, undermining academic freedom and democratic society generally. Moreover, actions targeting diversity and social justice efforts may also erode core university values including social responsibility and equitable access.

Sources:
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2025/01/24/rutgers-cancels-hbcu-event-align-trump-dei-orders
https://www.nj.com/education/2025/01/rutgers-u-cancels-hbcu-conference-to-align-with-trumps-dei-orders.html
https://www.jerseyvoices.com/2025/01/25/rutgers-center-for-minority-serving-institutions-cancels-conference-in-response-to-dei-orders/
https://patch.com/new-jersey/newbrunswick/rutgers-cancels-dei-conference-after-trumps-order-fulop-critical