A new study by University of Delaware professor Jarett Haley and others explored how racially minoritized graduate students understood the impacts of proposed or enacted state anti–diversity, equity and inclusion (anti-DEI) laws on their experiences in racial/ethnic graduate student organizations at public historically and predominately white institutions.
The study, published in American Educational Research Association , found that ultimately participants believed that their state’s anti-DEI law impacted their experiences and ultimately their agency within their organizations.
While some students did not think their organizations were impacted by the laws, many experienced direct impacts to their organizations’ funding and event planning while also identifying a lack of support from their institutions for navigating these impacts.
These findings can help institutions develop better resources and guidance for these organizations to address the impacts of anti-DEI laws.
Haley is an assistant professor in the School of Education at the University of Delaware. His research centers on understanding undergraduate and graduate students’ experiences in student affairs and other co-curricular higher education contexts, with an emphasis on the experiences of Black men in these spaces.
To speak with him more about the impact of this study, how this ultimately impacts the graduate student experience and his area of expertise, email mediarelations@udel.edu .
American Educational Research Journal
People
Racially Minoritized Graduate Students Navigating the Impacts of State Anti-DEI Laws on Their Experiences in Racial/Ethnic Graduate Student Organizations
25-Jun-2026