Issues surrounding cultural values have become prominent in college and university environments. Educational institutions are adjusting their diversity, equity, and inclusion policies in response to new state regulations, while others are trying to navigate the complex situation arising from the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Discussions regarding diversity, freedom of expression, curriculum, and student financial assistance have created significant challenges for higher education institutions as they strive to address both internal and external pressures.

Higher education researchers and educators told
that the recent scrutiny has felt more like an effort to "delegitimize" higher education institutions.

“What we're calling the cultural wars reflects the deeply divided political landscape that influences the policies and practices of educational institutions,” Aaron Pallas, a professor of sociology and education at Teachers College, Columbia University, stated in an interview.

“Consequently, laws and regulations, both old and new, are being utilized to advance political objectives.”

Nick Perrino, the executive vice president of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, describes campuses as a "microcosm" of broader societal trends, representing a battleground for the future.

"To be a genuine seeker of truth, an institution's administrators cannot favor one side of an argument over the other," said Perrino. "Their role is not to be critics themselves. Instead, they provide a platform for students and faculty to engage in discussions on challenging current events. The university's purpose is to be a forum, not a judge."

America's institutions have made the country a leading global force in higher education. Higher education has long been viewed as a pillar of academic freedom , Pallas told
in an interview. He said it has been a place where students are meant to engage in debate and dialogue to create the next generation of critical thinkers.

However, he cautioned, "fostering critical thinking might not align with the agendas of some political groups."

As tensions and political pressures intensify on college campuses, Americans are expressing growing disillusionment with these institutions.

A recent Gallup poll shows that U.S. adults are nearly equally divided among those who have a great deal or quite a lot of confidence (36%), some confidence (32%), or little or no confidence (32%) in higher education. In 2015, Gallup found that 57% had a great deal or quite a lot of confidence and 10% had little or none.

Heidi Tseu, assistant vice president for the National Engagement for the American Council on Education, told
, "The idea of higher education is to invite ideas and to invite discourse and consider things, and the spirit of that is to be able to train our next generation of leaders. That makes us a pretty soft target."

College campuses and politics

Recently, several universities witnessed student protests demanding a ceasefire and divestment from Israeli military operations. These protests intensified as the casualty count in Gaza escalated.

These institutions faced allegations of permitting anti-Palestinian and antisemitic rhetoric on their campuses. A Columbia University task force investigating antisemitism discovered that some Jewish and Israeli students felt marginalized within student groups. They experienced verbal abuse and their complaints were frequently disregarded by university administrators amidst the ongoing conflict.

Congressional hearings scrutinized student protests related to the Israel-Hamas conflict, raising concerns about discriminatory sentiments on campuses, including Columbia University, Harvard University, and the University of Pennsylvania.

After months of political scrutiny, with threats of federal or state funding cuts and legal action, three presidents of prominent universities resigned from their positions.

Simultaneously, legislation across the country has targeted diversity programs in higher education following the Supreme Court's decision to limit the use of affirmative action in college admissions. Florida, Texas, Oklahoma, and other states have significantly reduced their diversity, equity, and inclusion offices.

Diversity programs in higher education, designed to address inequalities and offer support for marginalized groups , have been criticized by some politicians for favoring students based on their background.

Furthermore, certain states have introduced measures to restrict certain curricula that discuss race, gender, sexual orientation, and oppression in higher institutions. Institutions that do not comply could lose government funding -- and some have criticized these laws as limiting freedom of expression.

Becky Pringle, the president of the National Education Association, contends that these laws could have lasting ramifications, especially if they reach the Supreme Court -- much like affirmative action or the Biden administration's efforts to forgive student debt on a large scale. The attempt to forgive student loan debt was rejected by the court due to a lawsuit filed by states led by Republicans and conservative advocates.

"The public has lost confidence in [higher education], partly because it hasn't been able to deliver on one of the key reasons people go to college," said Pallas.

He continued, "The pursuit of knowledge is inherently valuable, but many students attend college to enhance their economic prospects. The cost of higher education has risen, especially for public institutions, which are often dependent on state funding. However, this funding has been dwindling, while tuition costs have climbed. Therefore, the idea of taking on debt for an uncertain economic future might not be appealing."

Educators and researchers highlight the interconnectedness of higher education with the ever-shifting political landscape.