Part 7/9:
As the deadline passed, uncertainty looms over the future of DEI programs. With the OCR poised to launch investigations, institutions are left in a precarious position. Some legal experts contend that the current administration may launch investigations based not solely on external complaints but also on proactive assessments of college policies.
This could herald a new era of increased scrutiny for institutions with race-based scholarships and other initiatives deemed inconsistent with the letter’s intent. David Lee, a former attorney with the OCR, suggests that the crackdown would likely lead to a chilling effect on racial inclusion programs, making institutions overly cautious in their approach, maybe to a fault.