Two Louisville schools reject Trump’s higher education policies on DEI

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Two Louisville colleges are pushing back on the Trump administration’s orders to eliminate Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in higher education.

Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary and Bellarmine University are both publicly saying they believe the President is overstepping in his threat to withhold federal funding from schools that don’t comply.

“Not changing at all… No,” Louisville Seminary’s president Rev. Andrew Pomerville said. “We don’t want to have someone else tell us how to do that or what that looks like.”

The seminary is digging its heels in, joining hundreds of colleges and universities across the country in signing a statement from the American Association of Colleges and Universities, called “A call for constructive engagement.”

Part of the letter reads, “We will always seek effective and fair financial practices, but we must reject the coercive use of public research funding.”

“Our dedication to Black Church Studies, to some of our womanist studies, to our queer theology — what we do here is important,” Pomerville said.

When asked if what Trump deems as DEI policies and programs exist at the Presbyterian seminary, Pomerville answered, “They do, and we are proud of them. And we encourage people… If you’re looking for those types of programs, they will still be here.”

Pomerville acknowledges they’re dealing with their own struggles in communication with the federal government about what comes next and whether they could lose out on federal grants.

The seminary is one of two Louisville schools who signed the letter.

The other is Bellarmine’s President Susan Donovan.

Both are private institutions, not as dependent on federal financial assistance as Kentucky’s major public universities.

Pomerville says federal funding accounts for less than 10% of their overall budget.

“We get a little funding,” Pomerville said. “It would be a hit. It would be noticeable.”

Both the University of Louisville and the University of Kentucky have significantly rolled back their DEI initiatives, not just to follow orders from the Trump administration but also a new state law passed by Kentucky Republicans to ban DEI policies at all public universities in the state.

UK President Eli Capilouto recently released a prepared video statement, addressing the school’s decision to cancel separate celebrations for graduating LGBTQ+, Black and first-generation students.

He called these “tough decisions” that have caused “concern and hurt.”

“Every part of our University is under stress and scrutiny,” Capilouto said. “We have taken that action because we believe that’s what is required. And we believe complying with the law is the best way to protect our people in our continued capacity to support them.”

UofL has made similar moves, also citing Kentucky’s anti-DEI law.

“I understand many are having a private event for minority graduation,” Kentucky State Rep. Jason Nemes (R-Middletown) said about the changes. “I support their right to do whatever they want in a private event. But public events should not serve to divide us.”

Back at Louisville Seminary, Pomerville says things are complicated for higher education, but he tells WHAS11 that he’s not nervous.

“I know that we will have a future, but this is a challenge,” he said.

Bellarmine’s president declined to interview, but in a statement the university said they must have institutional autonomy to do their jobs effectively, ensuring they remain “free to teach, research and serve” in accordance with their Catholic mission and values.