Tennessee bans diversity offices and DEI initiatives at all public higher education institutions

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed legislation prohibiting public colleges and universities from operating DEI offices, requiring DEI statements or pledges from employees or applicants, or using state funds for DEI programming. The law gave the Tennessee Higher Education Commission authority to conduct compliance reviews and withhold funding. Universities of Tennessee system administrators immediately published guidance for campuses, and several previously existing diversity centers and multicultural student affairs offices were restructured or shuttered. The law covered all eight institutions in the University of Tennessee system and the Tennessee Board of Regents system colleges.