Delegate Elias Coop-Gonzalez has introduced legislation aimed at reinforcing fairness, equal treatment, and academic freedom in West Virginia’s public colleges and universities. House Bill 2025 seeks to ensure that admissions, hiring, and institutional practices at state-funded institutions prioritize merit over ideology or identity categories.
The bill prohibits the use of “diversity statements” in applications for admission, employment, promotions, and other academic decisions. These statements, which often ask candidates to express views on race, gender identity, or related political ideologies, are seen by critics as ideological litmus tests. By eliminating these requirements, Coop-Gonzalez’s legislation affirms the principle that no student or faculty member should be evaluated based on personal beliefs or immutable characteristics.
In addition to banning the use of identity-based preferences, the bill bars public institutions from making diversity training mandatory, except in cases where compliance with existing federal or civil rights laws is legally required. It restricts administrative training programs that promote controversial or political concepts such as unconscious bias, systemic oppression, or intersectionality—ensuring that such ideas are discussed freely in academic contexts but not imposed as institutional doctrine.
HB 2025 also eliminates the use of public funds for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) offices and officers, redirecting those resources to merit-based scholarships or tuition reductions for in-state students. Institutions will be required to certify compliance with the law and publicly report how they are upholding its standards, adding a layer of transparency and accountability.
Importantly, the bill protects academic freedom by preserving the rights of faculty to teach, conduct research, and advise students without interference. It also ensures that student-led organizations can continue to operate independently, as long as they are not used to sidestep the law’s intent.
By emphasizing neutrality, equality under the law, and a commitment to academic integrity, Delegate Coop-Gonzalez’s bill positions West Virginia as a national leader in resisting politicization in higher education. The legislation aims to foster an environment where students and faculty are judged by their abilities, not their adherence to prevailing social ideologies.
Supporters view HB 2025 as a bold step toward restoring educational institutions to their core mission: the pursuit of knowledge, excellence, and fairness for all.
