Black Student Unions are Under Pressure – Here’s What They Do and How They Help Black Students Find Community

November 27, 2025

Black student unions, which have served as crucial support networks for Black college students for over 60 years, are facing significant threats from recent policy changes targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. Beginning in 2024, institutions in Utah and Alabama withdrew funding and campus resources from their Black student unions, and more than 400 colleges nationwide have since eliminated or reduced DEI-related support under the Trump administration. These organizations historically provide Black students with community, advocacy, and belonging on predominantly white campuses while also performing valuable but often unpaid labor that helps universities recruit and retain students.

Who is affected

Black college students at universities across the United States
Black student union leaders and members
Universities in Utah and Alabama (specifically University of Utah and University of Alabama)
More than 400 colleges and universities nationwide
Black parents and prospective Black students considering college enrollment
Black engineering students and other identity-specific Black student groups
Staff previously employed in diversity, equity and inclusion positions

What action is being taken

Universities in Utah and Alabama have withdrawn funding and support from Black student unions
More than 400 colleges and universities are rebranding or eliminating DEI programs and centers
Black student union leaders are filling gaps by organizing social events and support services
Black student union leaders are acting as unpaid diversity workers
Universities are tapping Black student leaders to represent schools at public events and panels
Black student leaders are continuing to advocate for Black student needs creatively

Why it matters

Black student unions provide essential community and belonging for Black students on predominantly white campuses, offering a space where they can "figuratively exhale" from their campus environment. The withdrawal of institutional support forces full-time Black students to perform unpaid labor that sustains both their communities and the universities that profit from their presence and visibility. Universities benefit from Black student unions through improved recruitment, retention, and public image, yet cutting funding signals that Black students are not valued and must "fend for themselves." This represents systemic inequality, where different expectations are placed on different students, and an institution's budget priorities reveal whether they genuinely support Black students beyond rhetoric.

What's next

Black student unions will need to find alternative funding sources and potentially meet off-campus at their own expense. Student leaders will continue working to creatively advocate for Black student needs while performing unpaid diversity work. According to the scholar interviewed, Black student unions may look different going forward, but they are expected to continue based on Black students' historical pattern of creating traditions and community despite inequitable circumstances.

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint