Harvard University has begun a widespread rebranding and restructuring of its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) infrastructure, replacing it across several graduate schools with offices focused on “community and belonging” or “academic culture and community.” The changes come amid increased federal pressure, as the administration of President Donald Trump reopens negotiations with Harvard over its diversity policies and tax-exempt status.Over the past two weeks, at least six Harvard graduate schools have either shut down their existing DEI offices or renamed them, reflecting a broader institutional shift. The moves follow the earlier elimination of Harvard’s central Office for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging, which was dissolved in late April.Several schools rename or close DEI officesThe Harvard Divinity School (HDS) replaced its diversity office with an Office of Community and Belonging on July 1. Melissa W. Bartholomew, HDS’s Associate Dean for Community and Belonging, wrote in an email that the change aligned with “the evolution of diversity programming at Harvard,” as reported by Harvard Crimson. She added that the five-year anniversary of the office marked an appropriate time “to reflect on our past as we shape our future.”The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health followed suit, renaming its diversity group the Office for Community and Belonging. In an email to affiliates, HSPH Dean Andrea A. Baccarelli announced the formation of a working group on “constructive engagement” to evaluate how well the school promotes “viewpoint diversity,” Harvard Crimson reported.The Harvard Business School (HBS) has removed web pages that previously advertised support for minority, women, and LGBTQ students. Staff whose titles formerly included “diversity and inclusion” are now assigned to roles under “community and culture.”Key personnel changes and website removalsAt the Harvard Graduate School of Education, the chief diversity officer Jarrod Chin was laid off, and the school’s diversity office was closed, according to Harvard Crimson citing Boston public radio station GBH. Although the office’s website and Chin’s online profile remain active, both Chin and the school declined to comment.On the same day, the Faculty of Arts and Sciences announced the closure of its own diversity office and introduced a new Office for Academic Culture and Community. Simultaneously, Harvard Crimson noted that Harvard College quietly removed online content for centres supporting minority, LGBTQ, and women students.Trump administration pressure and funding concernsThese structural shifts occur in the context of ongoing legal and financial tensions between the university and the US federal government. Harvard Crimson reported that the White House recently subpoenaed Harvard and threatened its accreditation. President Trump has signed an 8 percent tax on the university’s endowment and issued threats to revoke its tax-exempt status.Harvard is also engaged in two active lawsuits concerning potential cuts to federal funding and limits on its capacity to host international students. No agreement has been reached between the university and the federal government.Remaining schools yet to actAs of now, the Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard Law School, and the Harvard Graduate School of Design have not announced similar changes. However, Harvard Crimson noted that HKS Dean Jeremy M. Weinstein confirmed that the school’s Dean for Diversity, Robbin Chapman, will be stepping down in late July. She cited “pressing family obligations” as the reason for her departure.Weinstein has appointed Sarah Wald, an advisor to the dean, to fill the position in the interim while a new appointment is made.TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us here.
