Despite a growing trend of companies scaling back diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, a recent report reveals that nearly all Fortune 500 companies continue to uphold their DEI commitments. The study found that 486 out of the top 500 corporations maintain some form of DEI statement or program on their websites. Sustained DEI Commitments Amidst Changing Corporate Trends In recent years, several major corporations have publicly reduced or eliminated their DEI programs. For instance, Walmart has rolled back certain DEI policies, including support for minority and LGBTQ-owned supplier programs,
Howard University has announced a record-breaking 36,000 applications for the 2024-2025 academic year, marking an unprecedented surge in interest, as first reported by Bloomberg. This trend mirrors a broader revival for historically Black colleges and universities, with more students seeking out schools that affirm their cultural identity while offering academic rigor. HBCUs See a Renaissance HBCUs are experiencing a significant surge in applications and enrollments after years of decline that mirrored national trends. Schools like Spelman College, Morehouse College, and Morgan State University reporting record numbers of applicants. Spelman, for
Facing rising scrutiny and backlash, more than half of companies are changing how they present their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, according to recent data from the Conference Board. A survey of over 60 executives revealed that 50% have adjusted DEI terminology to reduce an emphasis on racial diversity, with 20% more considering similar changes. Notably, “equity” is frequently being omitted as it’s perceived as the most controversial term. A Response to Legal and Social Pressures This shift follows increased pressure from conservative activist groups and legal challenges. The
Two of the most influential Black business leaders in the US are calling on companies to rethink scaling back their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts, according to CNN. Ken Frazier, who served as CEO of Merck from 2011 to 2021, was the first Black CEO of a major pharmaceutical company. Ken Chenault, CEO of American Express from 2001 to 2018, was only the third Black CEO of a Fortune 500 company. The leaders warned that reducing DEI efforts could limit opportunities for future generations of leaders facing racial and
The Supreme Court’s ruling against race-conscious admissions has not reduced Black student representation in the 2024 incoming college class, according to a new analysis. Instead, Vector Solutions, a leading education software and data provider, found a slight increase in Black student enrollment, driven by growth at small public institutions. Increase in Black Student Enrollment Many feared that the Supreme Court’s ruling would drastically lower the number of Black students and other students of color in higher education. However, Vector Solutions’ data, which includes responses from over 624,000 first-year students at
Black and Latine enrollment in Yale University and Princeton University’s have remained relatively stable, while the proportion of Asian American students has fallen. This marks the first admissions cycle since the US Supreme Court banned race-based admissions in June 2023. Steady Black and Latine/Hispanic Enrollments According to the first-year class profile released by Yale’s admissions office, Black students account for 14% of the class of 2028 – unchanged from the class of 2027. Yale’s class of 2028 profile also shows that Hispanic/Latine students make up 19% of the freshman class,
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) recently revealed a significant drop in the percentage of Black students in its incoming class of 2028, following the Supreme Court’s decision to ban race-conscious admissions. Decline in Black and Hispanic Enrollment According to Bloomberg, the most striking impact of the Supreme Court ruling is evident in MIT’s latest admissions data. Black students make up just 5% of the class of 2028, a decline from the 13% average in recent years. Similarly, the proportion of Hispanic students has dropped from 15% to 11%. This reduction
Workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives faced a significant setback after the US Supreme Court’s ruling on affirmative action in college admissions in 2023. However, experts now report that employers’ interest in DEI programs is now resurging, according to Law360. The Initial Impact of the Supreme Court’s Ruling The conservative-majority Supreme Court declared race-conscious admissions policies at Harvard University and the University of North Carolina unconstitutional. Though the ruling targeted higher education, its effects quickly spread to the corporate world. Legal threats led many employers to pull back on
Diversity programs continue to come under fire as Meta Platforms Inc. and three entertainment groups face lawsuits. What has been happening? Since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against colleges and universities considering race in their admissions process and ending Affirmative Action, there have been several lawsuits against diversity programs. Following that, conservative group American Alliance for Equal Rights, led by Edward Blum, filed lawsuits against law firms Perkins Coie and Morrison Foerster, challenging their diversity fellowships. The lawsuits alleged these fellowships unlawfully discriminated against white candidates and requested that racial
Conservative group American Alliance for Equal Rights, founded by Edward Blum, has brought a lawsuit against Fearless Fund, which supports women of color who own small businesses. Reuters reports that the lawsuit accuses Fearless Fund of violating Section 1981 of the Civil Rights Act of 1866, which bars racial bias in private contracts by opening its grant competition to Black women alone. Lawsuits brought by Blum and the conservative group led to the June Supreme Court’s ruling to shut down affirmative action, barring universities and colleges from considering race in their
