TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Azya Thornton on Jul 28, 2025

Vanderbilt University has hired the Nashville office of Baker Donelson to conduct an independent review of what the university described as “recent incidents” involving recorded comments by employees on the status of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs. According to a statement issued by the university, the firm “will be tasked with reviewing the specific circumstances related to the recordings and identifying steps the university can take to ensure all employees fully understand the university’s policies and consistently act in accordance,” The Nashville Post reports. The review comes as Tennessee lawmakers, including U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, examine DEI practices at major state universities, alleging that some institutions merely have renamed DEI programs rather than make meaningful changes. According to WZTV, covert recordings of employees at Belmont University and the University of Tennessee also allegedly indicate that DEI practices have not been eliminated as directed in federal guidance.