Kentucky’s universities find themselves at a crossroads following a legislative session that saw lawmakers attempt to impede or dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts within public higher education.
Legislators are expected to continue their counter on DEI initiatives in the next session. And while some universities continue to stand by their programs, the University of Kentucky and Northern Kentucky University have preemptively dissolved their DEI offices.
Bills aimed at undermining DEI in higher education have risen in popularity among Republican lawmakers in states across the U.S. According to the Chronicle of Higher Education’s DEI Legislation Tracker , 86 anti-DEI bills have been filed nationwide since 2023 — 14 of which are now law.
Two such bills were introduced in the Kentucky state legislature in 2024, though neither became law .
An interim legislative committee has continued discussions of DEI measures on campus ahead of the 2025 General Assembly, with representatives from the University of Louisville, UK and other schools scheduled to speak before the group Tuesday.