After campus outcry and national scrutiny, Cornell University has revised its Equal Education and Employment Opportunity (EEO) statement to reaffirm its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) — but notably, the updated statement continues to exclude references to affirmative action, aligning with recent federal directives under the Trump administration.
The changes, first reported by The Cornell Daily Sun, follow a brief but controversial revision earlier this month that stripped nearly all DEI-related language and removed links to discrimination resources.
The university now says that revision was due to a clerical error and that efforts have been made to correct the record.
READ: 2024 Election Retrospective: Democratic Coalition Fractures As GOP Makes Historic Inroads
“Cornell regrets any confusion caused by a recent clerical error in updating the Equal Education and Employment Opportunity Statement on our website,” a university spokesperson said in a statement to The Sun. “Our commitment to equal opportunity remains steadfast.”
While the restored version, published on March 21, includes renewed references to Cornell’s “history of diversity and inclusion” and restores access to anti-discrimination reporting tools, it no longer includes the term “affirmative action,” a standard inclusion in prior statements.
Revised EEO Statement:
- Restored language affirming Cornell’s support for a diverse and inclusive academic environment.
- Reinstated resources for addressing bias, discrimination, and misconduct through the Office of Institutional Equity and Title IX.
- Added legal references to protections for veterans and individuals with disabilities, including:
- Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act
- Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act
- Omission of prior phrase: “Cornell University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer.”
The updated statement now emphasizes selection and opportunity “on the basis of individual performance” rather than background or identity — a shift in tone.
READ :California AG Issues Urgent Alert: 23andMe Customers Urged To Delete Genetic Data
Cornell’s move comes after a February 14 directive from the U.S. Department of Education, which ordered federally funded institutions to eliminate racial preferences in admissions, hiring, and programming within two weeks or face loss of funding or investigation.
The department cited the landmark Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard Supreme Court ruling, which in 2023 deemed race-conscious admissions unconstitutional. In line with the new federal guidelines, affirmative action policies at public and private universities have come under review or been dropped altogether.
The earlier removal of DEI and discrimination language sparked criticism from students, faculty, and alumni, who raised concerns that Cornell was backing away from its long-standing equity commitments. The university has since clarified that while it remains committed to DEI, it is complying with federal policy updates and awaiting final review by its Board of Trustees, who met in Ithaca on March 20–21.
READ: Coalition Sues Trump Admin Over Plan To Dismantle Department Of Education
The revised EEO statement now reads:
“Cornell University’s history of diversity and inclusion encourages all students, faculty, and staff to support a diverse and inclusive university in which to work, study, teach, research, and serve.”
While the university continues to assert legal compliance and its broader DEI goals, the absence of affirmative action language underscores how federal policy shifts—particularly under the Trump administration—are reshaping the landscape of higher education governance.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
