As the Trump administration prepares to intensify its focus on diversity initiatives, American medical schools are undergoing a significant linguistic transformation. according to a report by CriticalRace.org, institutions are renaming their diversity, equity, and inclusion departments to avoid political backlash while keeping their core programming intact.
New labels like "belonging" replace traditional DEI terms
Many medical institutions are pivoting toward softer language to describe their social initiatives. The CriticalRace.org analysis identifies a trend where "diversity, equity, and inclusion" is being swapped for terms such as "belonging," "engagement," and "excellence."
William Jacobson , a professor at Cornell Law School and founder of the Equal Protection Project,argues that these new titles act as euphemisms for the very programs the Trump administration seeks to dismantle. jacobson described the current state of these institutions as "clinging to diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts like survivors on a shipwreck," suggesting that the rebranding is a superficial attempt to survive a changing political climate withut altering core content.
Drexel and Zucker adopt "Inclusive Excellence" and "Engagement" titles
Specific institutional changes illustrate this rebranding strategy. Drexel University College of Medicine has established the Office of Community Health and Inclusive Excellence to house its former diversity functions. Despite the name change, the university continues to support existing programming, such as Diversity Week and the Diversity in Medicine Research Symposium.
The Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell has also rebranded its department as the Office of Engagement and Excellence. The school maintains a list of student-led activities, including "Safe and Brave Spaces" and "Diversity Night," indicating that the underlying mission remains consistent with previous DEI-focused models.
The University of Nevada-Reno's move to the Multicultural Center
Not all schools are simply renaming offices; some are restructuring where these programs live. the University of Nevada-Reno has transitioned its diversity-related programming into its Multicultural Center. While the school no longer maintains a dedicated "DEI" office, it has added an associate dean for inclusive excellence to its leadership staff, according to the report.
A CriticalRace.org analysis of 156 medical schools
This trend is being tracked through a massive data collection effort by CriticalRace.org,which examines over 700 institutions.. This extensive database includes 156 domestic medical schools, 500 colleges and universities, and 50 elite private K-12 schools.
The report suggests a growing disconnect between federal political mandates and the internal culture of academia. As the Trump administration implements executive orders targeting these programs, many academic leaders appear to be biding their time, hoping for a future political shift that would allow them to restore original funding and structures.
Will semantic changes bypass Trump's executive orders?
Significant questions remain regarding the efficacy of these semantic shifts. It is currently unverified whether the Trump administration will view terms like "inclusive excellence" as a loophole or if they will expand their scrutiny to include the actual activities of these offices. Furthermore, the report does not clarify if these schools have consulted legal counsel to ensure their new titles meet the specific requirements of upcoming executive orders.
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