(RNS) — A prominent Christian college in Nashville, Tennessee, has hired an outside consultant to review its policies after politicians allied with President Donald Trump complained the school was violating the White House’s ban on diversity, equity, and inclusion — commonly known as DEI — at colleges that receive federal funds.
In mid-July, U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles, a Tennessee Republican, wrote to Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, asking her to investigate Belmont University’s “Hope, Unity, and Belonging” program, which he claimed was DEI in disguise.
The campus of Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn. Photo by Lahti213/Creative Commons
“Belmont University, like all universities, must understand that if they persist in promoting racist DEI programs in violation of their students’ rights, they will be defunded,” wrote Ogles in his letter, which cited Trump’s executive order.
DEI programs have become commonplace in America’s college and universities, especially in the wake of protests after the death of George Floyd in 2020. But in April, Trump issued an executive order that labeled DEI programs as discrimination.
Ogles asked McMahon to “initiate an immediate compliance review” of Belmont and to report to Congress about any other “rebranding” of DEI programs at other colleges. The letter also accused Harvard, George Mason University, American University, and Northeastern University of similar rebranding.
April Hefner, Belmont’s vice president for marketing and communications, told Religion News Service that the school had launched an independent compliance review.
“While we make every effort to ensure compliance and continue to maintain our belief that Belmont complies with all applicable laws, we take seriously the concerns that have been raised,” a statement about the review read. “With this in mind, we are bringing in an external partner to initiate an independent compliance review.”
The review will look at any potential issues that have been raised by changes in federal or state laws and address those issues “thoroughly and responsibly,” according to the statement.
Once a Tennessee Baptist college — it agreed to split from the denomination in 2007 after lawsuit — Belmont describes itself as a “Christ-centered, student-focused community.” The school hosted presidential debates in 2008 and in 2020, when Trump debated Joe Biden during the COVID-19 pandemic. The school also has close ties to Nashville’s music industry and opened a medical school last year.
Ogles’ letter was prompted by videos shared by conservative activists, including Charlie Kirk of Turning Point USA, in which a Belmont staffer described the Hope, Unity, and Belonging program as “just DEI” and said that there were undocumented students on campus. The video led politicians and activists to call for an investigation.
Republican U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn also sent letters recently to three Tennessee universities, including Belmont, accusing them of concealing their DEI programs. “Renaming woke-DEI programs to circumvent compliance and public scrutiny degrades the educational experience of your students and the trust placed in institutions of higher education like Belmont,” Blackburn wrote to Belmont President Greg Jones.
She added: “This administration has been very clear: postsecondary education programs funded by the federal government should benefit American citizens — not illegal aliens.”
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has also been critical of Belmont, alleging earlier this month that the school is obstructing immigration law by having undocumented students on campus. A Belmont spokesperson declined to address Noem’s comments, instead pointing to the school’s statement.
In a video update, Ogles said that he is a fan of Belmont and that his daughter applied to the school.
“I want to sing their praises, but I also have to hold them accountable, and this wokeness is in violation of President Trump’s executive order. Like Harvard, Belmont will be held accountable if they don’t correct course,” he said.
Ogles, who has close ties to businessman Lee Beaman – a member of Belmont’s board — has also called DEI “radically un-Christian.”
Belmont cited the school’s commitment to Christian faith in its statement.
“We remain committed to our core Christian identity and providing the highest quality educational experience for our students.”
