University Policies: Legal Lens | Live CLE Diversity, Inclusion Webinar

Equity in Education: University Policies Through a Legal Lens | Live CLE Diversity, Inclusion Webinar

Broadcast Date: Tuesday, November 18, 2025, from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM (ET) | On-Demand 24 hrs later

As universities face mounting legal challenges and public scrutiny over their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, questions arise about whether these efforts are promoting equity—or deepening social and political divides. This CLE DEI webinar explores the evolving legal, cultural, and ethical landscape surrounding DEI in higher education.

In this CLE webinar, Kenneth E. Sharperson, Chief Diversity Officer at Armstrong Teasdale LLP, and Kathleen E. Dion, Partner at Robinson & Cole LLP, will examine the critical issues shaping DEI policies today. Topics include recent federal investigations, civil rights lawsuits, the politicization of DEI, compliance risks, and the future of inclusive policies on campus. Attendees will gain insights to help assess DEI strategies critically, navigate shifting legal standards, and advise institutions effectively.

Topics include:

• Analyze recent legal and political developments impacting DEI initiatives in higher education.
• Evaluate the compliance risks and constitutional challenges tied to race-conscious policies.
• Distinguish between lawful equity strategies and practices that may trigger legal scrutiny.
• Advise institutions or clients on building inclusive programs that align with current legal frameworks and public accountability.

Agenda:

Kathleen E. Dion, Partner, Robinson & Cole LLP

&

Kenneth E. Sharperson, Chief Diversity Officer, Armstrong Teasdale LLP

1. Context and Framing
   
   • Overview of DEI’s original intent in academia: access, fairness, and belonging.
   • Shifts in perception: DEI as both moral commitment and legal challenge.
   • The tension between equity goals and equal protection principles.
2. Post–Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA) Landscape
   
   • Key holdings and implications from SFFA v. Harvard and UNC.
   • How the ruling extends beyond admissions—impact on hiring, scholarships, and programming.
   • Current OCR (Office for Civil Rights) investigations and compliance enforcement trends.
3. Legal and Reputational Risks
   
   • Recent lawsuits challenging DEI statements, affinity groups, and fellowships.
   • How public universities vs. private institutions face different exposure levels.
   • First Amendment and academic freedom concerns intersecting with DEI restrictions.
4. Strategic Compliance and Ethical Leadership
   
   • Building DEI initiatives around neutral, inclusive, and mission-based principles.
   • Reframing DEI through “access and opportunity” rather than “preference.”
   • Encouraging transparency, accountability, and outcome-based measurement.
5. Conclusion
   
   • The importance of aligning DEI with institutional values and legal durability.
   • Creating DEI strategies that withstand politicization while fostering genuine inclusion.