CSU complies with Trump’s anti-DEI directives — and sees protests — as other Colorado schools weigh responses

Colorado State University leaders plan to make staffing and policy changes to comply with the Trump administration’s most recent directives against diversity initiatives at educational institutions in an effort to preserve the school’s federal funding.

The university will “shift some employee job duties” along with making changes to human resources policies and processes, and change the institution’s website, to come into compliance with the federal crackdown on diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, according to a communication this week by CSU President Amy Parsons.

The move sparked student protests on CSU’s Fort Collins campus on multiple days this week as hundreds gathered to decry what they saw as capitulation to a federal government intolerant of the diversity so often touted on the college campus.

Other Colorado universities and K-12 school districts say they are reviewing the new directives from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, which issued what is known as a “Dear Colleague” letter on Feb. 14 that lays out its interpretation of federal law.

“Treating students differently on the basis of race to achieve nebulous goals such as diversity, racial balancing, social justice or equity is illegal under controlling Supreme Court precedent,” wrote Craig Trainor, acting assistant secretary for the civil rights division.

Schools nationwide must ensure within 14 days that their policies do not use race to make decisions around admissions, hiring, promotion, compensation, financial aid, scholarships, prizes, administrative support, discipline, housing, graduation ceremonies and all other aspects of student, academic and campus life, Trainor wrote.

“Educational institutions have toxically indoctrinated students with the false premise that the United States is built upon ‘systemic and structural racism’ and advanced discriminatory policies and practices,” Trainor wrote. “Proponents of these discriminatory practices have attempted to further justify them — particularly during the last four years — under the banner of ‘diversity, equity, and inclusion’ (‘DEI’), smuggling racial stereotypes and explicit race-consciousness into everyday training, programming and discipline.”

On Friday, CSU System Chancellor Tony Frank shared a lengthy public letter explaining that he instructed the university to comply with the Department of Education.

“To fail to begin to plan now in the face of the pace set by the Dear Colleague letter would, in my opinion, create a risk we should not take,” Frank wrote. “That’s the conclusion I’ve reached in my own deliberations. Is this conclusion appeasement?  Or is it recognizing that to accomplish our mission and our goals, a different approach is needed for a different moment in time? History will adjudicate that, as it does all things.”

CSU officials would not elaborate on what job duties or policies are being changed when asked by The Denver Post.

The Fort Collins campus has several cultural resource centers, including the Asian Pacific American Cultural Center, Black/African American Cultural Center and the Pride Resource Center for LGBTQ students.

In an update Thursday, Parsons wrote that these centers comply with the law because they are open to everyone.

“The federal government, however, may force us to change the way they operate, and responsible contingency planning now is imperative to take care of our students and staff,” she wrote. “…While we don’t know exactly what, if any, changes will be necessary, we are committed to continuing impactful student programs and services as part of our steadfast commitment to student access and success.”

Frank’s update described “redeploying people who have dedicated their careers to student success within focused areas into student success programs across the university and within colleges that have a broader reach and applicability” to meet compliance.

On one hand, Frank said, there are employees who are grateful to continue playing a role in student success.

“And we have employees — and students, and alumni — who see these actions as a betrayal — a capitulation to the illegal actions of an Administration that will eventually be corrected by the judicial branch of our government,” Frank wrote. “The tearing down of 50 years of progress without lifting a finger to stop it.  There’s pain and anger here, and that’s understandable.”

Hundreds of students on CSU’s Fort Collins campus gathered in protest Wednesday and Thursday. Martin Castañon, a 20-year-old CSU junior studying graphic design and business, said it was disheartening to see CSU give in to the federal administration.

“I wish the university would take a stand with their students,” Castañon said. “They would choose money over their own students. I wish they would practice what they preach. They have a land mission grant they stand by which is not being upheld. They preach about diversity, equity and inclusion, which is not what’s going on. Our president goes into the cultural centers, takes a quick picture with a person of color and then leaves.”

The federal letter said the Education Department will “vigorously” enforce the law at all preschool, elementary, secondary and postsecondary educational institutions and state educational agencies that receive financial assistance. Institutions that don’t comply could face a loss of federal funding, the letter said.

CSU does not use race as a factor in admissions, financial aid, employment or housing, Parsons said in her communications.

The University of Colorado Boulder also issued a community statement addressing the Education Department’s letter, saying the campus is analyzing the guidance and will provide more information soon. CU said it complies with state and federal law.

“As with all of the recent directives released during the federal transition, the university will continue to analyze them to assess the potential impact to CU,” Boulder campus officials said.

Metropolitan State University of Denver — among the state’s most diverse higher-education institutions — said it is the only modified open-access university in Colorado, meaning students who are at least 20 with a high school diploma or GED are automatically admitted by state statute. MSU does not consider race or any of the measures mentioned in the federal education department’s letter in admission decisions, MSU Denver said.

“As a university, our role is to educate, foster critical thinking and create welcoming spaces for learning and open dialogue for all students,” MSU Denver spokesperson Tim Carroll said. “Fulfilling our academic and statutory mission remains our top priority by providing accessible, enriching education that prepares students for successful careers. We define ourselves by who we include not who we exclude.”

On Feb. 6, Colorado School of Mines President Paul Johnson sent a message to his campus stating that federal funding plays a key role in the institution’s mission, and that school leaders will need to make adjustments to comply with the Trump administration’s rules.

“For example, we already know that we won’t be allowed to have university-driven programming related to diversity, equity and inclusion,” Johnson wrote. “We will have to figure out how to satisfy that requirement while at the same time staying committed to fostering a supportive and respectful community that enables the success of our students, faculty and staff. A team is working on that now.”

At the K-12 level, officials at several metro Denver school districts said they are still working to analyze the federal guidance’s impact.

“We are reviewing the information and working to understand the full impact on our students, staff and families,” Cherry Creek School District spokeswoman Lauren Snell said in a statement.

Denver Public Schools officials said they are looking at the work done by the district and how it may or may not conflict with the Education Department’s “Dear Colleague” letter.

Denver Post reporter Jessica Seaman contributed to this report.

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