Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives are integral to many U.S. universities’ missions to foster supportive campus communities. Despite progress, challenges like limited resources and political opposition remain. Inconsistent evaluations of DEI programs highlight the need for rigorous research to identify effective practices across diverse contexts and populations. Using a survey of students and faculty across North America, we show that most (72.5%) initiatives were moderately to very effective for the majority (74%) of respondents. Students rated DEI efforts more effective than faculty, particularly accessibility measures and symbolic practices like pronoun sharing and DEI statements. Effective strategies included family care support, diverse leadership, mentorship, outdoor accessibility, and facilitated discussions fostering critical thinking. Women, LGBTQIA+, and non-traditional academics found certain initiatives particularly effective, although ratings were broadly consistent. These findings challenge claims of DEI ineffectiveness, underscoring the universal benefits of inclusive practices and the importance of sustaining and improving them.
McCaslin et al. (2026) studied this question.