U.S. universities scale back Black studies programs

Over a dozen U.S. colleges and universities have scaled back, merged, or eliminated Black, African, and African American studies departments and majors over the last two years. This trend coincides with increased political pressure on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and new state-level legislation.

Institutions such as the University of Iowa, the University of Texas at Austin, and the University of Kansas have reduced these programs. At the University of Iowa, the undergraduate African American studies major was eliminated following a drop in enrollment to nine students. In Ohio, the University of Toledo suspended admissions to its Africana studies bachelor’s program to comply with the Advance Ohio Higher Education Act, which prohibits DEI programs and mandates the elimination of majors with fewer than five graduates per year.

Nationwide, the number of students completing African American studies degrees has reached its lowest level in two decades. While administrators often cite low enrollment and funding shortfalls as the primary drivers, academics point to political shifts and legislative actions, such as those in Indiana and Ohio, as significant factors in the reduction of these academic disciplines.