Rutgers University Cancels DEI Conference 

Rutgers University canceled a virtual conference on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) that had been scheduled for January 30. An executive order from the Trump administration that rolls back such programs led to the cancellation.

The conference, with 100 registered attendees, was to focus on how registered apprenticeships can benefit Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and their students.

Marybeth Gasman, executive director of the Rutgers Center for Minority Serving Institutions (CMSI), was to serve as moderator.

CMSI has a four-year sub-grant with Jobs for the Future (JFF), which it received from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL).

“On 1/23, in the early morning, we received an email from JFF informing us that they received a ‘stop work’ from the DOL. We were to stop all work, invoice them for work done through 1/23, and cancel the conference,” said Gasman.

DEI Funding Concerns

Rutgers couldn’t hold the conference using other funds because all but two of the panelists were federal employees, JFF employees, or partners in the grant.grant partners

“Private grants and donors fund our other programs and research. We are moving forward with all of our events, research, etc. We had to cancel an HBCU event because it was funded through a DEI Hub that issued a stop work order. Not because it was an HBCU-focused event,” said Gasman. 

In an email, Rutgers told participants and attendees: 

"We have been asked to cease all work under the auspices of the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility HUB at Jobs for the Future, which the U.S. Department of Labor funds.”

Jobs for the Future's annual summit is scheduled for June 10-11 in Ne Orleans. It’s unclear whether the summit will proceed. Jobs for the Future did not respond to Skift's request for comment.

Pivotal Moment

“Our country is at a pivotal moment in history,” said Jason Dunn Sr., CEO of the National Coalition of Black Meeting Professionals. “People are going to have to make decisions based on the moral compass of their organization. Federally funded programs will not be actualized. It will take critical thinking and courage to come up with other ways to do such programs.”

“This is just the tip of the iceberg. This executive order will have huge implications,” said Rhonda Payne, founder and CEO of the Flock Theory, a consultancy specializing in workforce development, learning, and events.  

Payne is already seeing some associations proactively scrubbing their websites for fear of retaliation for their advocacy initiatives. Others are proactively moving or postponing events, citing "too much risk" to stay the course, said Payne.