Georgia NAACP condemns KSU's plan to phase out Black studies program

Kennesaw State University

May 2nd, 2025

The head of the Georgia chapter of the NAACP is demanding answers after Kennesaw State University announced it would end its Black studies program due to "low performance." The decision comes as universities across the nation are uncertain how the Trump administration's targets on DEI practices will impact their federal funding. (Courtesy of Kennesaw State University)

The president of the Georgia State Conference of the NAACP is condemning Kennesaw State University for “deactivating” its Black studies program, claiming that it is “low-performing.”

KSU said in a statement that the Black studies program, as well as philosophy and technical communications, have consistently fallen short in enrollment and degree output over at least the last decade. KSU has a two-year plan so current students can complete those degrees.

The cuts come as universities and institutions across the nation are uncertain about how their federal funding may be impacted, as President Donald Trump’s administration targets diversity, equity and inclusion practices.

While the university will continue offering Black studies courses as minors, students and faculty are condemning the decision to deactivate the major programs.

Gerald Griggs gave WABE’s “Morning Edition” the rundown of the NAACP’s next steps regarding engaging with KSU leaders, students and teachers.

“[I] had an opportunity to speak to several administrators at Kennesaw, and there are numerous major programs that are low performing, even lower than the Black studies,” he said. “So I’d like to get a clear answer, that’s based on data and not assumptions.”

Griggs said he sees a concerning trend of universities retreating from DEI advancements made over the past 60 years.

“We want to remind them that federal law is still intact when dealing with these issues, and there’s been no substantive change legally other than an executive order that’s unenforceable,” he said. “And so, we believe it’s an attempt to go backward to a far-gone era, and we at the Georgia NAACP will not sit idly by while these things happen.”

Griggs said the Georgia NAACP is requesting a meeting with KSU’s president and the provost.

Lily Oppenheimer contributed to this report.