#higher_education | The Distraction Index
The Distraction Index
Weekly civic intelligence report · v2.2
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#higher_education
11 events across 9 weeks
4
Damage
3
Distraction
4
Noise
25.3
Avg A
23.9
Avg B
WEEK 55
Jan 11 – 17
DIST
2026-01-16
University of Arkansas Refuses to Hire Pro-Transgender Law School Dean
Norm Erosion Only
single state · narrow
A
4.5
B
18.5
WEEK 46
Nov 9 – 15
NOISE
2025-11-14
Minnesota Higher Education Institutions Report Grant Disruptions
Resource Reallocation
single state · moderate
A
11.4
B
22.8
WEEK 42
Oct 12 – 18
NOISE
2025-10-17
Universities Decline Trump Federal Funding Compact
Policy Change
federal · moderate
A
16.7
B
22.3
WEEK 13
Mar 23 – 29
DMG
2025-03-29
Trump Administration Launches Anti-DEI Campaign Against Universities
Enforcement Action
multi state · moderate
A
38.9
B
30.9
WEEK 12
Mar 16 – 22
DMG
2025-03-22
Columbia University Capitulates to Trump Funding Threats
Resource Reallocation
federal · moderate
A
67.2
B
18.5
WEEK 11
Mar 9 – 15
DMG
2025-03-15
Trump Education Department Investigates 50+ Universities Over Diversity Policies
Enforcement Action
federal · broad
A
47.7
B
29.9
DIST
2025-03-15
DOJ Investigates Columbia University for Allegedly Hiding Students from US Authorities
Enforcement Action
federal · narrow
A
WEEK 10
Mar 2 – 8
DMG
2025-03-07
Trump Administration Cancels $400 Million in Federal Funding to Columbia University
Resource Reallocation
federal · moderate
A
39.4
B
27.6
NOISE
2025-03-07
Sen. Rick Scott Proposes Defunding Universities Over Antisemitism
Resource Reallocation
federal · moderate
A
WEEK 5
Jan 26 – Feb 1
NOISE
2025-02-01
WVU Shuts Down DEI Office Following Morrissey Ban
Policy Change
single state · moderate
A
9.4
B
21.9
WEEK 4
Jan 19 – 25
DIST
2025-01-24
Trump Executive Orders Expected to Impact College Students
Policy Change
federal · moderate
A
14.5
B
25.8
18.4
B
28.2
10.1
B
16.5