Mandatory DEI training for students at Southern Illinois University’s Law School; not participating puts students at risk of damaging their permanent record

Summary

Simmons Law School at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois, held a “DEI Mandatory Session” for all students on February 13, 2026. These documents were obtained via a FOIA request as well as a tip from an anonymous student.

However, students were not told until the sign-in portion of the session that this training was specifically for DEI. The initial email from the associate dean marketed the event as a “professionalism” training. However, at the actual training, students filled out a form that read, “DEI Mandatory Meeting Sign In Sheet.”

Furthermore, students who were not able to attend this mandatory meeting were required to participate in alternative programming, which consisted of presentations detailing cross-cultural communication, bullying, and other topics.

If a student did not participate in this mandatory training, they could receive a “letter of reprimand,” which would be placed in that student’s permanent file and then potentially shared with the bar.

Key Takeaways

• Simmons Law School at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois, held a “DEI Mandatory Session” for all students on February 13, 2026.
• Students were not told this was a DEI session and only find out upon arrival, when there was a “Mandatory DEI Meeting Sign In Sheet.”
• In the presentation, the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion manager for the Illinois Supreme Court spoke about how bullying “disproportionately affects traditionally underrepresented groups” and about how “lawyers of color were bullied more often than white lawyers.”
• If students chose to not participate in this mandatory DEI programming, they could receive a “letter of reprimand,” which would then go on their permanent record and would be shared with the bar.

February 13, 2026 Mandatory DEI training for all students

The initial email from the associate dean read, “This is reminder that our mandatory, all-school, professionalism seminar that will take place from 1-4pm THIS FRIDAY, February 13, 2026, in the school’s auditorium.”

The email continued, “The presentation that day will consist of three separate portions. First, Julia Roundtree Livingston, from the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism, will speak about bullying in the legal profession. The second session will consist of cross-cultural communication skits depicting lawyers dealing with diverse populations. The third and final portion will consist of a presentation from Dr. Samuel Wheeler, the Director of History Programs for the Illinois Supreme Court Historic Preservation Commission. Dr. Wheeler will discuss President Lincoln’s cabinet choices and his decision to assemble a disparate ‘team of rivals’ as coined by the Doris Kearns Goodwin book ‘Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln.’

We hope this afternoon will prove thought-provoking and provide you an opportunity to reflect on your professional identity and the special role you will serve as a future lawyer in our various communities.”

However, a sign-in sheet from the February session revealed that this meeting was dedicated to DEI, rather than professionalism. Specifically, the sign-in sheet for the event read, “DEI Mandatory Meeting Sign In Sheet.”

The first portion of the training focused on bullying in the legal profession. One slide read, “Bullying disproportionately affects traditionally underrepresented groups.”

Another read, “Lawyers of color were bullied more often than white lawyers.”

One slide from the training included quotes from lawyers who had been bullied. One of the quotes read, “Biases and stereotypes are prevalent and racial cliques are dominant. Minorities struggle to advance and find mentorship that can help them.”

This portion of the training was delivered by the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion manager for the Illinois Supreme Court.

Additionally, students unable to attend this “mandatory professionalism” training were required to fill out an absence form and participate in a make-up session. The absence form reiterated the content of the meeting, which read, “DEI Mandatory Session Absence Form.”

According to an internal email between a student and the associate dean, this meeting was voted on and made mandatory by a majority of faculty. The email read, “Each of these events, including this training, was designated as mandatory by a majority vote of the faculty. The faculty determined that these sessions are an essential part of your legal education and professional preparation, and students are expected to attend accordingly.”

Furthermore, according to the dean, if a student was to not attend this mandatory DEI event, it would go on their permanent record as a “letter of reprimand,” which could follow that student around for the entirety of their legal career.

In an email, the dean wrote, “In general, I don’t need to spend much time enforcing mandatory attendance because our students usually approach these events as professionals and meet expectations without issue. Those who cannot attend in person typically fulfill the make-up expectations without issue. However, if a student misses a required session and does not complete a make-up within a reasonable period of time, we typically issue a letter of reprimand. That letter is placed in the student’s permanent file and would be shared with the bar if the file is requested as part of the character and fitness process.”