Fox News Digital chronicled several 2025 campus controversies involving courses and materials critics called politically charged. Incidents include leaked slides at the University of Illinois, a University of Oklahoma grading dispute tied to a student’s Christian beliefs, and a University of Minnesota page describing a "Whiteness pandemic." The report also highlights courses at Princeton and the University of Central Arkansas and notes the Department of Education has provided over $200 million since 2021 for DEI-related counseling content at 48 universities.
Controversial University Courses in 2025: Federal Funding, DEI Content, and Campus Backlash
Most radical courses, curriculum that received federal funding in 2025
Over the past year, Fox News Digital documented a string of controversies at American universities involving courses and curricula critics described as far-left. The disputes include leaked lecture slides, classroom grading disputes tied to students' religious beliefs, webpages and classes addressing "Whiteness," and federal funding that supports DEI-related content in counseling programs.
Leaked Slides and Classroom Disputes
In 2025, leaked PowerPoint slides from a first-year education course at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign prompted criticism for material that some described as strongly slanted on immigration, race and gender. The slides reportedly included content that linked former President Trump to "white supremacy," drawing widespread attention.
At the University of Oklahoma, a student received a zero out of 25 on an assignment about gender norms and said the grade stemmed from her Christian beliefs. The teaching assistant who assigned the grade drew criticism for the manner of their response and has since been dismissed by the university.
A young man sits at a classroom desk, covering his face with his hands as he appears stressed and overwhelmed during class.
"Whiteness Pandemic" Page and Academic Freedom
Fox News Digital also reported on material identified by Defending Education at the University of Minnesota. A webpage hosted by the Institute of Child Development described a "Whiteness pandemic" and suggested White adults take responsibility to "self-reflect, re-educate yourself, and act." The university defended the content, citing a commitment to academic freedom.
"If you were socialized into the culture of Whiteness during childhood, it is not your fault, but as an adult it is now your responsibility to self-reflect, re-educate yourself, and act. If you are a White adult, antiracist action involves an ongoing process of self-reflection in order to develop a healthy positive White identity while engaging in courageous antiracist parenting/caregiving."
Course Offerings Under Scrutiny
Several courses across the country drew attention. At the University of Central Arkansas, the English department lists an interdisciplinary writing course titled "Queer Childhoods," which focuses on thematic readings and analytical writing. Princeton University offered a seminar framing the conflict in Gaza as "genocide" and examining it through gendered, decolonial, Indigenous and feminist lenses. Critics raised concerns about the framing and political implications of such offerings.
At the University of North Georgia, a student reported that an assigned textbook in an International Public Relations class contained a line describing "Christian (a U.S.-based white supremacist group)" among a list of modifiers. The student said she was alarmed that the language singled out Christianity while other identity modifiers were listed, noting the text was published in 2007.
Protesters in Michigan rally against President Donald Trump’s anti-DEI policies, denouncing federal rollbacks on diversity, equity and inclusion programs.
Federal Funding And DEI Content
Earlier in the year, Fox News Digital reported that the U.S. Department of Education awarded more than $200 million since 2021 to 48 universities to incorporate DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) content into counseling coursework. Reported topics in those programs included antiracism, microaggressions, White privilege and Whiteness — a point of contention for critics who say such material politicizes classroom instruction.
Other institutions have faced reviews or calls for audits: the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents announced a review of courses after allegations a student was removed from a class for questioning transgender-related material.
Reporters: Fox News Digital's Peter D'Abrosca and Preston Mizell contributed to this report.
