By Robbie Chamberlain
The Scene staff
Diversity, equity and inclusion programs are on the chopping block at universities and colleges across the country due to pressure by President Donald Trump and other Republican leaders.
St. Louis Community College is no exception.
STLCC has altered and deleted web pages and begun examining possible changes in programs and facilities, marketing strategies, scholarships and contracts.
Both Trump and Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe, a Republican, have signed executive orders that require government agencies, educational institutions, organizations and contractors to end DEI programs or risk losing federal and state funding.
“Absolutely, we remain committed to our mission, vision and values,” said D’Andre Braddix, chief engagement officer for the college. “And our values are students first, respect for all, collaboration, integrity, data-informed.
“Yes, there is a prohibition on diversity, equity and inclusion programs. So, for us, we have to figure out a way to realize our values in spite of this executive order.”
Braddix was referring to Missouri Executive Order 25-19, which Kehoe issued in February. It requires that within 90 days, state agencies must provide “colorblind and equal treatment” and warns that state funding will be withheld if they continue DEI practices and procedures.
Braddix’s own title was an early casualty of the anti-DEI movement. He was formerly the school’s executive coordinator of DEI. That was quietly changed in December, shortly after Trump won the general election.
“By that point, there were already 13 anti-DEI bills in the last two legislative sessions (in Missouri) with an understanding that more would come this legislative session,” Braddix said.
DEI definition
There’s no concrete definition of diversity, equity and inclusion programs. They’re broadly defined as those that seek to foment universal participation and comfort in an institution, particularly meeting the needs of oppressed groups.
Republican leaders argue that DEI programs can create “reverse discrimination” and jeopardize meritocracy by giving unfair advantages to minority groups. Supporters see it as a way to level the playing field and to reverse barriers to success for marginalized communities.
On Jan 21, Trump signed Executive Order 14173. This requires the elimination of all DEI-related positions in the federal government and threatens to withhold grants and contracts from institutions and businesses that don’t comply.
Kehoe issued his executive order on Feb. 18. It pertains to state aid.
According to the STLCC budget for fiscal year 2025, the college’s general operating fund includes $44.7 million in state aid (48.8%). This fund covers payroll, utilities and other operating costs.
“(Losing state aid) would be devastating,” said Mark Swadener, chief financial officer and vice chancellor for finance, noting that the college is funded by state aid, local taxes and student tuition. “If one of those goes away … you’d have to figure out how to make that up.”
In February, STLCC formed a “college response team” to review the executive orders and determine what the college needed to do to be compliant.
Members include heads of departments such as Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, Human Resources, Purchasing and Marketing.
“We need to examine and respond to any local, state, or federal rules that require changes in our operations,” Chancellor Jeff Pittman stated in an email to students on Feb. 14.
Deleted web pages
In early February, The Scene had already verified that some STLCC web pages related to DEI were being altered or deleted.
At least two main pages have been deleted. In both cases, users get messages that read, “Oops! We can’t seem to find the page you’re looking for. Error code: 404.” But the deleted pages have web archives. One was titled “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.”
The introduction read, “At STLCC, we strive to foster an atmosphere of appreciation for all people, regardless of race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status or class.”
The page also included links to DEI-related resources, such as clubs and organizations for people with disabilities, ethnic or religious backgrounds, military service and those who identify as LGBTQ.
The other deleted page was titled “STLCC Resolution Denouncing Racism.” It displayed a Board of Trustees resolution acknowledging the oppression of BIPOC (Black, indigenous, people of color) and LGBTQ students and committed the college to serving them equitably.
Other STLCC pages have been altered. A few examples include:
• The title of a page under Library Resources has been changed from “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion” to “All are Welcome.”
• Another Library Resources page no longer describes a Queer Film Series as “LGBTQIA+ Inclusive.”
• A mission statement on the Access Office page that contained words such as “diversity” and “equitable” has been removed.
• A DEI action plan has been removed from the Center for Teaching and Learning Faculty Development page, along with links to videos and other resources.
Trigger words
The response team is using a New York Times’ list of DEI terms to identify “trigger words” that could lead to scrutiny, according to member Regina Blackshear, associate vice chancellor of student affairs.
“We’re looking at job descriptions, we’re looking at policies and procedures, which is per the directive that (Kehoe) sent out, to see if at any time that any of those things could be considered (related) to diversity, equity and inclusion,” she said. “Because in his mind, all policies should be colorblind, and everybody should get equal treatment.”
Team members are also considering changes to everything from STLCC recruitment of minority groups to gender-neutral bathrooms on campus to clubs that cater to students of specific racial, religious or cultural backgrounds.
In some cases, officials may have to find alternative funding sources for programs, including private donations made through the STLCC Foundation.
Blackshear gave the example of a Dreamer Foundation Scholarship that has been offered in the past to undocumented students who came to the United States as children with their parents.
The response team plans to put out a statement ahead of the May 19 deadline set by Kehoe’s order, explaining to students the shifting tides and disclosing all the changes that are being made.
“We want our students to feel that they belong here, no matter what part of the DEI spectrum they fall in, and just to be more inclusive as a college,” Blackshear said.
“You have to make those kinds of changes, and you have to look into how it affects everybody and what that will look like moving forward.”