A GOP measure prohibiting accrediting organizations from mandating colleges and universities to adopt diversity, equity, and inclusion policies as a condition of accreditation was passed by the U.S. House, but faces an uncertain future in the Senate. The End Woke Higher Education Act, part of a series of anti-woke initiatives, received bipartisan support with four House Democrats voting in favor. The bill includes two previous bills introduced by Republican lawmakers focused on college excellence and protecting free speech on campus. Utah Rep. Burgess Owens, who introduced one of the bills, emphasized the importance of academic freedom and defending students’ rights.
However, the Biden administration and major college associations strongly opposed the legislation, arguing that it would interfere with institutions’ ability to promote diversity and inclusion. Democrats in the House criticized the measure as an attempt to inject culture wars into the accreditation process and undermine free speech on campus. Despite the passage in the House, the bill is unlikely to advance in the Senate due to Democratic control. Leading associations of colleges and universities also expressed concerns about the legislation, highlighting potential negative impacts on free speech and discrimination protections on campus. The divisive nature of the GOP measure underscores ongoing debates about ideological influence in higher education and the role of government regulation in academic institutions.
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