Senator Jim Banks Questions University President on DEI Movement in Higher Education

Defining Moral Rot in Higher Education

• 💡 Dr. Lindsay defines "moral rot" as the erosion of basic human values that have become normalized in many higher education institutions.
• 🧠 This erosion is seen as antithetical to the fundamental purpose of education, which should foster a virtuous life.

The Purpose of Higher Education

• 🎯 The core mission of higher education is to prepare students for careers and to make them better citizens.
• 🏛️ Institutions need to clearly define and uphold their values, creating an environment where these virtues can thrive and flourish.
• ⚠️ Institutions should be clear about their identity and may not be the right fit for every student.

Motivations Behind the DEI Movement

• ❓ Senator Banks questions the prevalence of the DEI movement on college campuses, asking if it's driven by donors, the federal government, or federal funding.
• 🗣️ He posits that DEI can feel like a political movement that distracts from the core educational mission.
• 🚫 Taylor University has reportedly rejected this political DEI movement, focusing instead on a merit-based approach.

Taylor University's Approach to Admissions and Diversity

• 🌍 Taylor University embraces diversity, exemplified by its first international student, a Liberian prince named Sammy Morris, who embodied a spirit of service above self.
• 📈 The university prioritizes mission-appropriate students who are academically strong, with an average freshman GPA of 3.89.
• ✅ Taylor University focuses on a merit-based approach to student admissions, rather than a political one, to prepare students for careers and citizenship.