Last Updated on July 21, 2025 by Bertrand Clarke
When Piranas Jeyanathan, a recent history and politics graduate from Northeastern University’s London campus, first heard about the U.S. executive order targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, he assumed it would have little impact on his academic life across the Atlantic. After all, the United Kingdom operates under its own legal framework, including the Equality Act 2010, which mandates protections against discrimination. However, by March 2025, subtle but significant changes began to ripple through Northeastern’s London campus, prompting students and faculty to question the global reach of U.S. policy shifts and their implications for international education.
On January 21, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing federal agencies to investigate “illegal” DEI programs at institutions with endowments exceeding $1 billion, a category that includes Northeastern University, with its $1.85 billion endowment as of June 30, 2024. The order, part of a broader campaign to reshape diversity initiatives in higher education, sent shockwaves through U.S. campuses, with over 50 universities facing federal investigations by March 2025 for alleged racial discrimination in DEI programs. While the directive was aimed at U.S. institutions, its effects have unexpectedly reached international campuses like Northeastern University London (NU London), raising questions about the interconnectedness of global academic networks and the influence of U.S. policy abroad.
A Shift in Language and Identity
By mid-March 2025, NU London’s DEI website, once a prominent feature of the university’s online presence, underwent a subtle transformation. The title was changed to “Belonging at Northeastern London,” and the annual “DEI Report” was rebranded as the “Belonging Report” in a March 19 newsletter to students and faculty. According to Internet Archive records, these changes occurred as early as March 16, though references to DEI remained in subheadings related to staff and student data until July. Renata Nyul, Northeastern’s Vice President for Communications, explained in a July 7 email to The Huntington News that these updates were intended to align with changes made at the university’s U.S. campuses, where the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion was renamed the Office of Belonging around January 24.
For students like Jeyanathan, the rebranding felt like more than a cosmetic change. “It’s not just about words,” he said. “It’s about what these changes signal to students who rely on these programs to feel supported.” The shift to “belonging” sparked mixed reactions. Some students viewed it as an attempt to preserve the spirit of inclusivity under a less contentious label, while others saw it as a dilution of the university’s commitment to addressing systemic inequities. Ahana Sinha, a current NU London student, noted in a February 2024 photo caption that the campus’s First Point Lounge, a hub for student activities, had become a focal point for discussions about these changes.
The Legal and Financial Context
The changes at NU London stem from a complex interplay of legal and financial considerations. Kevin Plante, an attorney and founder of General Counsel Law, explained that international campuses of U.S.-based universities could face scrutiny if they receive federal funding. “Even though international campuses are outside U.S. jurisdiction, enforcement authorities like the Department of Education may expect compliance if federal funds are involved,” Plante said. Northeastern’s global network, which includes campuses in Boston, London, and Miami, relies on a mix of federal grants, student aid, and research funding, making it vulnerable to such pressures. In 2024, Northeastern reported $10.9 million in grants from the National Institutes of Health alone, underscoring the financial stakes.
The U.K.’s Equality Act 2010, which protects against discrimination based on characteristics like race, gender, and disability, adds another layer of complexity. Plante noted that NU London must balance compliance with U.K. law while navigating the expectations of its U.S.-based parent institution. This dual obligation has left administrators in a precarious position, with some faculty arguing that the university acted too quickly to align with U.S. policy. “Northeastern was alarmingly quick to bend to compliance,” said Adina Gitomer, a fifth-year PhD student at Northeastern’s Network Science Institute in Boston.
Faculty and Student Reactions
The rebranding has sparked varied responses among NU London’s faculty and students. Celal Özkızan, an assistant professor of international relations and politics, expressed a measured perspective, suggesting that the changes reflect a pragmatic response to external pressures rather than a rejection of inclusivity. However, others, like Johan Bonilla Castro, a nonbinary and Latinx assistant professor of physics at Northeastern’s Boston campus, have voiced concerns about the broader implications. Bonilla Castro, who visited Northeastern’s Miami campus in early 2025, recounted difficulties navigating Florida’s anti-transgender laws and questioned the university’s commitment to protecting marginalized faculty and students.
Students at NU London have also felt the impact. The Northeastern Black Student Association (NBSA) in Boston, which has no direct counterpart in London, issued a statement on November 7, 2024, reaffirming its commitment to supporting Black students amid the U.S. political shifts. In London, students like Kelecia Myers, a second-year criminal justice and psychology major, expressed disillusionment. “I thought we were protected,” Myers said, reflecting on the assumption that international campuses would be insulated from U.S. policy changes.
The decline in Black student enrollment at Northeastern’s U.S. campuses—down 35% for the Class of 2028 following the 2023 Supreme Court ruling against affirmative action—has heightened concerns about the university’s diversity efforts. While NU London’s enrollment data is less publicly available, students fear similar trends could emerge if inclusivity programs are scaled back.
A Global Trend in Higher Education
Northeastern’s experience is not isolated. Across the U.S., universities like the University of Southern California and the University of Iowa have shuttered or restructured DEI offices in response to Trump’s executive orders. Harvard University, facing $2.2 billion in frozen federal funding, has resisted some demands but remains under scrutiny. Internationally, other U.S.-based institutions with global campuses, such as New York University’s sites in Abu Dhabi and Shanghai, are reportedly reviewing their diversity policies, though no public changes have been announced as of July 2025.
The Trump administration’s broader agenda, including restrictions on international student visas and transgender participation in sports, has further complicated the landscape for global universities. At NU London, the absence of clear guidance on how the executive order applies has left administrators cautious. Senior Vice President for External Affairs Mike Armini noted in a March 2025 interview that Northeastern began reevaluating its DEI policies over a year ago, suggesting a proactive approach to compliance.
Looking Ahead: Balancing Compliance and Values
As NU London navigates these changes, the university faces a delicate balancing act. The shift to “belonging” has been framed as a way to maintain inclusivity without attracting federal scrutiny, but critics argue it risks undermining the specific protections DEI programs were designed to provide. Paulette Granberry Russell, president of the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education, warned that such shifts could have “profound” long-term consequences for higher education and society.
Students and faculty are calling for transparency and action. Dashiell Davis, a second-year international affairs student, urged Northeastern to develop an alternative plan to support diversity. Meanwhile, faculty like Suzanna Danuta Walters, director of women’s, gender, and sexuality studies at Northeastern, have criticized the university’s “anticipatory compliance” as a missed opportunity to stand firm.
As of July 21, 2025, NU London’s website still includes some DEI references, but the broader trend suggests a continued move toward neutral language. With the Trump administration’s policies showing no signs of slowing, the global academic community is watching closely to see how institutions like Northeastern balance compliance with their stated values of inclusivity.
For now, students like Jeyanathan remain cautiously optimistic. “We need to keep pushing for a campus where everyone feels they belong,” he said. “But it’s going to take more than a new website to make that happen.”
