Harvard University is rebranding its Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging as the institution continues its standoff with the Trump administration, which has frozen more than $2 billion in federal aid.
On Monday, Harvard announced the office will now be called “Community and Campus Life.” According to a report by The Harvard Crimson, the newly renamed office will focus on “expanding cross-cultural engagement programs, supporting first-generation and low-income students, and creating more opportunities for dialogue across differences.”
The university is also renaming its Chief Diversity Officer position to Chief Community and Campus Life Officer. Sherri A. Charleston, who currently holds the title, stated in an email that Harvard would “reexamine and reshape the missions and programs of offices across the university.”
The rebranding comes as the Trump administration has clashed with Harvard over its diversity programs and campus climate. The administration froze over $2 billion in funding after the university declined to comply with demands to address antisemitism on campus and dismantle its DEI programs.
Harvard President Alan M. Garber previously pushed back against the administration’s pressure, stating that the government does not have the authority to “dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue.” The university also filed a lawsuit against the federal government over the funding freeze.
However, the decision to rename the DEI office appears to align with the administration’s demands. The Harvard Crimson noted that other Ivy League institutions have recently removed DEI references from their websites and restructured similar offices, and that this marks Harvard’s first major shift regarding its DEI programs.
