In February 2025, the U.S. Department of Education issued a “Dear Colleague” letter that signaled aggressive enforcement around race-conscious programs—sparking widespread fear, fast policy changes, and real disruption across higher education. In this episode, we break down what that guidance set in motion, how it impacted student support and campus trust, and what student-centered leadership looks like when institutions are under pressure.

We also discuss what happened next: federal judges blocked enforcement of key directives in April 2025, and later developments (including the government dropping its appeal) left the guidance effectively dead—but not before many campuses had already made changes and absorbed damage.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit deiafter5.substack.com/subscribe