May 30, 2025
DEEP DIVE: Wise Courage: A Framework for Higher Education Leadership in the Face of Federal Overreach
There is nothing “normal” about now. The Trump Administration has initiated a period of federal overreach against efforts by institutions of higher education (IHEs) to advance core values related to building inclusive and accessible environments, advancing equitable opportunity, and promoting the benefits of diversity. The Administration began by branding these efforts as “illegal DEIA” and is now taking multiple actions to bar pursuit of these values as if virtually all were outlawed when they are not. The Administration’s enforcement actions threaten academic freedom, a bedrock principle enshrined in the First Amendment that undergirds higher education’s ability to fulfill its purpose in our democracy, economy, and society.
Navigating this period presents an unprecedented challenge to IHEs and their leaders. It requires wisdom to separate the (legal) signal from the (policy preference) noise. And it requires courage to remain committed to an institution’s mission and values amid the risks associated with such federal overreach. To help leaders act with wise courage, this EducationCounsel paper summarizes existing legal parameters and provides a three-part framework for advancing effective, legally defensible access and opportunities for all students and faculty.
Click to access the full Wise Courage paper as well as an Executive Summary.