DEI remains central in US faculty hiring despite political and regulatory pressures

American higher education stands at a crossroads where ideals of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) intersect with political scrutiny and legal constraints. What was once a progressive framework for shaping inclusive campuses has evolved into a decisive criterion in faculty hiring, even as legislators and executive authorities attempt to curtail its influence. A recent analysis by the nonpartisan Heterodox Academy , examining over 10,000 faculty job postings from the 2024–25 hiring cycle, reveals a landscape where DEI remains deeply embedded in institutional priorities. The study illustrates not just persistence, but the adaptive strategies universities are deploying to integrate inclusion into hiring practices amid an increasingly polarized environment.


DEI’s enduring influence in faculty recruitment

Despite legislative barriers and political pressures, DEI continues to play a central role in recruitment decisions. According to the Heterodox Academy analysis, 22.3% of faculty job postings explicitly required DEI statements or related documentation. Private universities led in this practice, with nearly 29% of postings demanding DEI engagement, compared with 19% at public institutions, a discrepancy largely driven by laws prohibiting public universities from requesting DEI statements. This indicates that, for many institutions, DEI is not a superficial requirement but a core element of their hiring ethos, signaling an ongoing commitment to cultivating inclusive academic communities.


Geography, discipline, and institutional patterns

Regional and institutional dynamics shape DEI integration in nuanced ways. Coastal public universities are more likely to request DEI statements than their counterparts in the Midwest and Southeast, reflecting the influence of localized academic culture. Baccalaureate Colleges, focused on undergraduate education, displayed the highest prevalence, with 42.8% of postings incorporating DEI requirements. Across disciplines, DEI’s reach is remarkably uniform: STEM fields requested statements 25.5% of the time, humanities 23.5%, and social sciences 24.8%. These figures challenge assumptions that DEI is primarily a concern of liberal arts disciplines, highlighting its systemic role in faculty recruitment across the academic spectrum.


Adaptive integration strategies

Universities employ diverse methods to embed DEI into the hiring process. While some require a standalone DEI statement, others integrate it within teaching philosophies or cover letters, allowing institutions to meet inclusion goals while navigating external scrutiny. These approaches reflect a strategic balancing act, maintaining legal compliance, signaling institutional values, and cultivating diverse and equitable learning environments simultaneously.


DEI as a defining feature of modern academia

The Heterodox Academy’s findings underscore a critical reality: DEI is no longer peripheral in faculty hiring. It has become a defining feature of institutional identity and academic culture. As universities contend with evolving regulations, political pressure, and societal expectations, DEI will continue to shape the composition of faculty, the intellectual climate of campuses, and the future of American higher education itself.