Harvard University does not intend to change its DEI efforts to align with the Trump Administration. As AFROTECH™ previously told you, President Donald Trump issued a two-week deadline that requires schools and university to no longer consider “racial preferences” in admissions, financial aid, or hiring. Educational institutions that fail to comply risk losing federal funding. T his aligns with the administration’s goal to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts, which has played out with the closing and ending of “ all DEIA initiatives, offices and programs” within the federal government. “Colleges and universities are going to find themselves between a rock and a hard place,” Angel B. Pérez, CEO of the National Association for College Admission Counseling, said to AP News at the time. “They know that what they’re doing is not illegal, but they are worried that if they do not comply, not having federal funding will decimate them.” Harvard University Responds In a...

In 2025, America’s higher education landscape is being reshaped by a wave of federal funding cuts and political pressure from the Trump administration. Universities across the country are under scrutiny, not only for how they handle civil rights issues but also for their participation in diversity and inclusion initiatives. As a result, many schools have already begun scaling back their scholarship offerings , cutting graduate research funding and even laying off staff. This shift marks one of the most significant challenges to U.S. higher education in decades, particularly affecting institutions that rely heavily on federal research grants. With billions of dollars in play and political agendas now influencing financial support, students and faculty alike are facing an uncertain future. The Federal Clampdown On Higher Education (RUT MIIT/Unsplash) The Trump administration’s approach to federal funding has caused ripples across nearly every sector of higher education . Historically,...

A group of students claims a New York school backed by Jay-Z underdelivered on its promise. According to the Gothamist, a group of students is alleging that the Roc Nation School of Music, Sports & Entertainment at Long Island University (LIU) Brooklyn overpromised on financial awards to fund their eduction. Several offer letters the students have received from the school describe incentives such as a “full-tuition scholarship” and “financial grants” that would allow them “to graduate without debt.” However, the letters did not mention that the financial awards would not cover housing costs or certain academic fees, which can add up to more than $22,000 per year. “I am pleased to share that you have been awarded a Hope full-tuition scholarship… This scholarship, combined with financial grants will allow you to graduate without debt. As a Hope scholar, you don’t have to worry about tuition charges,” an email from the school’s academic adviser read. One student, Justice Stephenson,...

Florida A&M University (FAMU) has lost a significant grant that helped produced 60% of the nation’s Ph.D. graduates in pharmaceutical sciences. According to the Tallahassee Democrat, the Historically Black College and University’s (HBCU) pharmacy school and its Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI) program will not receive planned funding because a $16.3 million grant supporting them was terminated on March 21. The grant, awarded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and renewed in 2024, was originally scheduled to run through March 2029. “The funding was awarded to support new faculty hires and enhanced research in key areas such as artificial intelligence, bioinformatics and cancer biology,” FAMU Interim President Timothy Beard said in a statement, according to the outlet. “For nearly 40 years, faculty and graduate students have relied on this center to conduct biomedical and health research.” He also mentioned, “The program is a critical contributor to the...

Five-year-old Maddox Lopez is following in the footsteps of his sister, who was inducted into high-IQ society Mensa, in 2024. With an Einstein-level IQ, Maddox already understands times tables and is a member of Mensa, an organization that requires participants to take an approved intelligence test and score within the top 2% of the general population, its website states. Maddox now joins his sister, Declan, in the organization, which requires an IQ of 130 or more, ABC7 New York reports. “Maddox is all about math and coding, and he finds back doors on video games and programs, where Declan is just like an intellectual who loves to learn anything,” their mother, Meachel, told the outlet. That’s not all. Both Maddox and Declan join their father, Delano, who is also an educator and member of Mensa. However, he credits his children’s intelligence to his wife. “She was doing a lot of extra work with the kids. Even once they started back to school after COVID, she had a whole schedule up,...

After spending significant dollars in DEI efforts, the University of Michigan has closed two offices tied to equity and inclusion. The Detroit Free Press reports that the public research university has spent nearly $250 million on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts in recent years. However, the university has now decided to dismantle its Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI) and the Office for Health Equity and Inclusion (OHEI).” “Student-facing services in ODEI will shift to other offices focused on student access and opportunity,” the school said in a statement on its website, according to the outlet. The statement also read: “The DEI 2.0 Strategic Plan, the umbrella strategy for schools, colleges and units, will be discontinued, along with DEI 2.0 unit plans, related programming, progress reporting, training and funding.  Individual leads, who have supported DEI efforts in schools, colleges and units, will refocus their full effort on their core...

The 18th annual Disney Dreamer’s Academy is underway. It will bring together a diverse group of high school students from across the country for a transformational mentoring program at Walt Disney World Resort. On Thursday, March 27, 2025, “Abbott Elementary” star Tyler James Williams — joining the fun as this year’s “DREAMbassador” — helped welcome 100 high school students who are shaping the future in fields like science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to Orlando, FL. The day featured a parade at Magic Kingdom, where Williams served as the honorary grand marshal. After the parade, Williams shared that he was particularly excited to attend storytelling sessions, noting that he’s a storyteller “first and foremost.” When asked by AFROTECH™ about the impact of AI-generated content and streaming platforms on the future of storytelling, Williams said he believes technology will always play a significant role. “I think technology will always play a role,” Williams told...

HillmanTok University has made its way from TikTok to Capitol Hill. On March 11, 2025, the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) joined forces with TikTok to celebrate the digital community for Black educators using the social media platform to reshape education and inspire approximately 135.79 million U.S. users. Several HillmanTok educators — Dr. Leah Barlow, Shyia Simmon, CPA Thurman Brooks, Kyra Brown, Denise Francis, and Gyllian Carter — visited Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, for a special reception to celebrate educational innovation and meet with members of Congress, TikTok shared in a news release. @thurman.brooks.cp Good morning Class! Myself and other Hillmantok creators got a chance to go to DC with TikTok to meet with members of congress and discuss the importance of the platform! Very grateful to have met everyone! Thank you to Andria Carter for having us and her hospitality! @Dr. Barlow’s Intro to Af-Am @Resilient Grace @YT: @gylliwilliproductions @Shyia Simmons ♬ original...

Virginia Union University (VUU) students can become certified doulas on campus, making it the first historically Black university in the state to offer such a class. On Tuesday, March 18, 2025, the private, Richmond, VA-based HBCU announced a partnership with the birth center Birth In Color and the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) to launch a six-month doula training certification program, according to WRIC Channel 8. VUU’s announcement came just ahead of World Doula Week, which runs from March 22 to March 28, 2025. In an interview with AFROTECH™ , Mama Glow Foundation founder Latham Thomas described a doula as a birth “producer” who provides emotional and physical support, education, and advocacy tools during childbirth. While some people view doulas as less educated or non-compliant, Thomas noted that they are just as important as other healthcare professionals, especially in a society where women, particularly Black women, are expected to advocate for themselves. “Black women...

High school senior Chase Matthews is making history in Georgia. WSB-TV Atlanta reports that as Matthews looks ahead to her next chapter after graduating from Westlake High School in South Fulton County, Georgia, she’s celebrating a record-breaking number of scholarship offers to support her higher education journey. She has already been accepted into colleges in every state, totaling 155 acceptance letters. Some of the schools include Florida A&M University, Howard University, Ohio State University, and the University of Alaska Fairbanks. “Just hard work, hard work,” said Matthews’ College Advisor Sean Moore, according to WSB-TV Atlanta. Furthermore, the outlet also noted that Matthews has received $6 million in scholarship offers, one of the highest for a high school senior in the state’s history. “Chase exemplifies excellence,” mentioned Gregory Minnis, Westlake High interim principal, per the outlet. Matthews has not yet decided which school she will attend, but the prospects of...

A 13-year-old who attends high school in Conyers, GA, has fulfilled his lifelong dream of receiving an acceptance letter to Morehouse College . Joshua Suddith is currently dual-enrolled at Hills Academy and Augusta Technical College, completing 27 credit hours with a GPA of 3.88, according to 11 Alive News. In his free time, Joshua enjoys playing basketball like typical kids his age — but he is anything but ordinary. By 9 months old, he was talking, and by 18 months, he was reading. At just 3 years old, he authored his first book. “His grit and determination are the most impressive things about him,” his mother, Chaundra Suddith, said. “He didn’t let challenges get in the way of his dream.” Throughout his education, Joshua skipped several grades — he moved from second grade to fifth grade, then to seventh, and then 11th grade. By age 12, he had received over 20 college acceptance letters, including from Jackson State University and Tennessee State University, 11 Alive reported....

World Doula Week, from March 22 to March 28, 2025, highlights the vital role of doulas in improving maternal and infant health outcomes. Latham Thomas , founder of Mama Glow and the Mama Glow Foundation , is doing her part to raise awareness. Thomas, also known as Glow Maven , has been involved in women’s health for over two decades. While many doulas enter the field due to their personal and oftentimes negative or traumatic experiences, her journey began positively with the birth of her son, who is now 21 years old. “I would say that having had that experience where I felt very supported, there was safety, I felt dignified, I had a sense of autonomy with the care providers who were present that inspired me, I think, to sort of start this journey, but also I knew that I needed to protect the experience for other people,” Thomas told AFROTECH™. “I [not only] wanted to help reframe [negative perspectives], but also address what was obviously a challenge in our community.” Thomas...

A middle school teacher in Meridian, ID, reported being forced to remove signs reading “Everyone is welcome here” and “Everyone in this room is welcome, important, accepted, respected, encouraged, valued, and equal” from her classroom display. West Ada School District officials believed sixth-grade world civilization teacher Sarah Inama’s signs violated a policy mandating neutral classroom content and respect for others’ right to express differing opinions, according to KTVB Channel 7. “They told me that they were in violation of district policy because, in today’s political environment, they’re considered a personal opinion,” Inama said. Initially, she removed the signs but later changed her mind, believing the message reflects a fundamental value of public education. Inama said her signs are consistent with district posters encouraging students to “welcome others and embrace diversity.” “I just feel like as a teacher… I would do anything to protect my students. I love all of them...

High School senior Mantavius Presley has a bright future ahead. As a student at Douglas County High School, located at Douglasville, GA, Presley has prioritized more than just his academics to make a meaningful impact within and beyond school walls. According to WSB-TV 2, he serves as president of Future Business Leaders of America and the National Honor Society , as well as vice president of the student government and Class of 2025. In addition, Presley has taken on leadership roles as the manager of the junior varsity and varsity cheer teams and is a member of the yearbook staff, all while dedicating over 1,100 hours to community service, per Atlanta News First. As he prepares to walk the stage in the spring, Presley’s next chapter in higher learning is already in motion. He has received acceptances from more than 58 colleges and universities. Among the interested academic institutions are The University of Alabama, Mercer University, and Historically Black Colleges and...

Some Harvard University students will soon be able to attend the institution free of charge, thanks to a new initiative aimed at making education “affordable to more students than ever,” particularly for those from middle-class families. On Monday, March 17, 2025, the Boston, MA-based Ivy League institution announced that starting in the 2025-2026 academic year, students from families with annual incomes of $100,000 or less will receive free tuition, food, housing, health insurance, and travel costs. They will also get a $2,000 start-up grant in their first year and a $2,000 launch grant during their junior year to “help support their transition beyond Harvard .” Additionally, Harvard will be tuition-free for students from families with annual incomes up to $200,000. “Putting Harvard within financial reach for more individuals widens the array of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives that all of our students encounter, fostering their intellectual and personal growth,” said...