College staff and professors need this glossary to ensure their language aligns with recent laws and executive orders that require political neutrality in public higher education. Measures such as Arkansas Act 1002 (the Prohibiting Indoctrination Act), Florida’s Stop Wrongs to Our Kids and Employees (Stop W.O.K.E.) Act, and Texas Senate Bill 17 (relating to the elimination of DEI offices) set specific limits on the use of certain terms and concepts in classrooms, training, and official materials. This resource helps faculty avoid terminology that could be viewed as ideologically biased under these statutes, offering clear, academically appropriate alternatives. By following this guidance, professors can maintain instructional quality while complying with state directives and institutional policies.
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This resource does not reflect any specific political agenda or personal endorsement of policy positions. It is intended solely to help higher education professionals navigate politically sensitive terminology in a changing legal and administrative landscape.
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I am not an attorney. Nothing on this site should be construed as legal advice. For legal guidance, consult your institution’s counsel or qualified legal professionals.
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Much of the content was generated with the assistance of artificial intelligence and may contain inaccuracies, outdated information, or unintended bias. Use discretion and cross-reference with trusted sources.
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This resource is not affiliated with any university, professional association, or government agency.
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The guidance provided is focused on political defensibility in conservative-governed states and is not a substitute for institutional policy or accreditor requirements.
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Terminology evolves. What is politically sensitive today may change quickly; users should stay informed about current legislation and public discourse relevant to their campus or state.
A
- abortion
- accessibility
- accessible
- activism
- activists
- advocacy
- advocate
- affirming care
- all-inclusive
- allyship
- anti-racism
- antiracist
- assigned at birth
- assigned female at birth
- assigned male at birth
- at risk
- autism
B
- barrier
- belong
- bias
- Biased toward
- biologically female
- biologically male
- bipoc
- Black
- breastfeed + person
C
- Cancer Moonshot
- chestfeed + person
- clean energy
- climate crisis
- climate science
- commercial sex worker
- community
- community diversity
- community equity
- confirmation bias
- continuum
- Covid-19
- cultural competence
- cultural differences
- cultural heritage
- Cultural relevance
- cultural sensitivity
- culturally appropriate
- culturally responsive
D
- DEI
- DEIA
- DEIAB
- DEIJ
- dietary guidelines/ultraprocessed foods
- disabilities
- disability
- disabled
- discriminated
- discrimination
- discriminatory
- disparity
- diverse
- diverse backgrounds
- diverse communities
- diverse group
- diversified
- diversify
- diversifying
- diversity
- diversity and inclusion
- diversity/equity efforts
E
- elderly
- enhance the diversity
- enhancing diversity
- entitlement
- environmental justice
- environmental quality
- equal opportunity
- equality
- equitable
- equitableness
- equity
- ethnicity
- evidence-based
- excluded
- exclusion
- expression
F
G
- GBV
- gay
- gender
- gender based
- gender based violence
- gender diversity
- gender identity
- gender ideology
- gender-affirming care
- Gulf of Mexico
H
- H5N1/bird flu
- hate
- hate speech
- health disparity
- health equity
- hispanic
- hispanic minority
- historically
I
- ideology
- identity
- immigrants
- implicit bias
- inclusion
- inclusive
- inclusive leadership
- inclusiveness
- inclusivity
- Increase diversity
- increase the diversity
- indigenous community/ people
- inequalities
- inequality
- inequitable
- inequities
- injustice
- institutional
- intersectional
- intersectionality
- intersex
J
K
- key groups
- key people
- key populations
L
- Latinx
- LGBT
- LGBTQ
M
- male dominated
- marginalize
- marginalized
- marijuana
- measles
- men who have sex with men
- mental health
- minorities
- minority
- minority serving institution
- most risk
- msm
- multicultural
- Mx
- MSI
N
- Native American
- NCI budget
- non-binary
- nonbinary
O
- obesity
- opioids
- oppression
- oppressive
- orientation
P
- peanut allergies
- people + uterus
- people-centered care
- person-centered
- person-centered care
- polarization
- political
- pollution
- pregnant people
- pregnant person
- pregnant persons
- prejudice
- privilege
- privileges
- promote
- promote diversity
- promoting diversity
- pronoun
- pronouns
- prostitute
Q
R
- race
- race and ethnicity
- racial
- racial diversity
- racial identity
- racial inequality
- racial justice
- racially
- racism
S
- science-based
- segregation
- self-assessed
- sense of belonging
- sex
- sexual preferences
- sexuality
- social justice
- socio cultural
- socio economic
- socioeconomic status
- sociocultural
- special populations
- stem cell or fetal tissue research
- stereotype
- stereotypes
- systemic
T
- they/them
- topics of federal investigations
- topics that have received recent attention from Congress
- topics that have received widespread or critical media attention
- trans
- transgender
- transexual
- trauma
- traumatic
- tribal
U
- unconscious bias
- under appreciated
- under represented
- under served
- underprivileged
- underrepresentation
- underrepresented
- underserved
- understudied
- undervalued
V
- vaccines
- victim
- victims
- vulnerable
- vulnerable populations
W
- woman
- women
- women and underrepresented
X
Y
Z
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Modification History File Created: 04/18/2025 Last Modified: 04/23/2025
This work is licensed under an Open Educational Resource-Quality Master Source (OER-QMS) License.
