South Florida Students Turn to HBCUs as DEI Cuts Reshape College Plans
Key Takeaways
- Students are facing uncertainty as diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs are eliminated under new policies.
- HBCUs are seeing a surge in interest as Black and minority students seek supportive environments.
- Florida A&M University (FAMU) and Fort Valley State University report record-high applications.
- Parents and students worry about the impact on financial aid and college affordability.
- Advocacy groups urge students to fight back and push for equal opportunities.
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DEI Cuts Leave Students Uncertain
High school seniors like Angelo Crespo are excited about applying to HBCUs, but recent political changes have created anxiety about their future. “It is kind of scary because as soon as we’re seniors, planning to go to college, all these large changes are happening,” Crespo said at the Miami Black College Expo.
The uncertainty stems from recent policy shifts, including an executive order by President Donald Trump eliminating race- and gender-based programs in federally funded institutions. Florida has already taken steps to remove DEI initiatives, with universities like Florida International University and the University of Florida shutting down DEI offices and removing related content from their websites.
Daniella Pierre, president of the Miami-Dade NAACP, believes these policies are designed to limit opportunities for minority students.
“The systematic stripping away of DEI programs, coupled with book bans, curriculum restrictions, and attacks on academic freedom, represents an existential threat to our students’ future and to the very foundation of democracy itself,” she said.
More Students Turning to HBCUs
With DEI programs disappearing from predominantly white institutions (PWIs), HBCUs are experiencing an increase in interest. Taj Echoles of 100 Black Men of South Florida predicts this trend will continue.
“Students accepted under DEI programs, which helped maintain diversity, are now being denied opportunities,” Echoles said. “You’re going to see an influx of students who would have possibly attended a PWI or state-funded schools go to our Historically Black Colleges and Universities.”
At FAMU, applications have surged to 20,000, though only about 1,600 will be admitted. “The fear here is that we may have too many students,” said Richard Gibson of FAMU’s National Alumni Association. Fort Valley State University in Georgia is facing similar demand, with housing shortages due to increased enrollment.
Concerns About Financial Aid and Affordability
As DEI-related scholarships and funding programs disappear, students are worried about how they will afford college.
“Financial aid helps a lot of people. Without it, nobody is going to be able to afford to go to school,” said senior Taziaya Mitchell. “It’s a big thing not just for Black people but for everybody who needs help to pay for college.”
Parents share these concerns. Christine Theodore, whose child is in ninth grade, sees the issue as broader than just DEI cuts. “One of the fears is that students are going to learn the truth about how difficult things really are in this world,” she said.
Fighting for Opportunities
Despite the challenges, advocates are urging students to push back. Dr. Theresa Price, founder of the National College Resources Foundation, sees this as a repeating cycle in history.
“When you really think back, DEI has been in and out over the years,” she said. “It’s really just about restricting opportunities.”
She encourages students to stay engaged. “We have to stand and say no, and we have to continue to push for what’s right,” she said. “Young people are the ones who will change this.”
At the Miami Black College Expo, more than 1,000 students received college acceptance letters, and over $5 million in scholarships were awarded—proving that despite policy changes, students are still finding pathways to success.
