Diversity, equality and inclusivity are not dirty words. Why are they treated as such in higher education?

It is alarming that the words diversity, equality and inclusion – so closely aligned with America’s identity as a land of opportunity for all – have become politically toxic. Diversity, equity and inclusion are important values at the core of our mission in American higher education. Community colleges in particular serve a diverse group of students, many of whom are the first in their families to attend college. Amazingly, diversity, equity and inclusion programs, which are so central to student learning and success, have taken on negative connotations among politicians.

Recent legislation makes our work with students more difficult. From October 25 25 states have introduced legislation to eliminate or limit higher education’s diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. Restrictive Legislation has been passed in 12 states and 205 colleges and universities have been forced to change policies or create solutions in their efforts to continue supporting students. Two federal bills have been proposed in Congress.

These bills deny a history of racial injustice and imply that we have put historical wrongs behind us. To suggest saying that individuals should not feel discomfort, guilt, fear, or any other form of psychological distress because of their race or gender. The proposals fail to recognize that education is not always comfortable and ignore the potential of learning history. Diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in higher education are not about making people feel guilty, labeling people as members of a privileged class, or dwelling on past grievances; they are about learning, understanding, closing equity gaps, removing barriers, and giving everyone a meaningful opportunity to succeed. Government actions that force colleges to close offices that provide support to students or dictate what can be taught have made it more difficult for colleges to provide the education that students, our communities, and our country need and deserve.

The movement against diversity, equity and inclusion is partly a response to the racial reckoning that swept the United States following the very public deaths of people of color at the hands of authorities paid to protect them. The efforts to seek redress and reform for the racial injustice that spread across the country have faded and become political.

The The decision of the Supreme Court The removal of affirmative action in college admissions has unfortunately also led to policymakers giving permission to end race-based policies go far beyond admission decisions to include student support programs.

The anti-diversity, equity, and inclusion movement has consistently worked to undermine equitable practices. Any treatment that appears to benefit one group over another is seen as unequal, unfair and a cause for resentment. Radio and television commentators exaggerate stories about apparently unfair advantages, angering people and sowing resentment and distrust. Equality seems a more acceptable principle than equality at first glance.

But to say that all students should be treated equally makes as much sense as a doctor treating all patients equally, regardless of their medical problems. Should someone with a broken arm receive the same treatment as someone having a heart attack? Students are individuals, diverse in every way. Shouldn’t we recognize that a student with learning or physical disabilities needs fair treatment? What about fair treatment for a returning veteran, a single parent, an older adult student, an LGBTQ student, or a formerly incarcerated student? Shouldn’t colleges provide equal support services to help students be equally successful, rather than treating every student the same while unrealistically hoping that equal treatment will produce equal results?

There are many equity-focused initiatives implemented at colleges and universities that are making a positive difference for students – from summer bridge programs to mandatory course requirements to safe spaces for veterans or formerly incarcerated students and many others. While many higher education leaders today fear that speaking out about diversity, equity, and inclusion will have negative consequences for their institutions—or perhaps cost them their careers—it has become imperative for us to find ways to educate policymakers and the public shed light on the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion programs at our colleges. Instead of trying to bypass bad laws, we should rescue diversity, equality, and inclusion from their current state of political toxicity and recognize how important they are to achieving the American dream.

Boggs, Ph.D., is superintendent/president emeritus of Palomar College, president and CEO emeritus of the American Association of Community Colleges and chairman of the board of directors of Phi Theta Kappa. He lives in San Marcos.