Army Corps pulls out of S.C. school’s STEM Day after DEI ban

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - A downtown Charleston all-girls school says the Army Corps of Engineers pulled out of this year’s STEM Day, after years of participation.

Ashley Hall is an all-girls K-12 school. Head of School Dr. Anne Weston says the “Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day” program has been going on since 2017, when an alumna working at the Army Corps of Engineers reached out to set up a partnership.

“She helped as a liaison to bring in a number of federal agencies, particularly those that had women practitioners to come in and teach classes to our girls,” Weston says. “We’ve been had the privilege of doing this for eight years, and we’re just so touched that these young women in these professions wanted to share their gifts and talents with our students.”

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When she heard from the Army Corps that they would be pulling out of the event scheduled for Feb 21, she and her s there expressed disappointment. The federal agency cited the president’s ban on DEI as their reason for cancelling their end of the program.

“They’d put a pause on their outreach efforts, in accordance with what their understanding of the executive order was, and therefore they were very disappointed, but would be unable to come at this point in time,” Weston says.

Weston says the school informed parents about the agency’s cancellation because it changed the arrival schedule for the students that day. She then received a lot of emails and questions about the reasoning expressed behind the cancellation. Weston wrote a letter to parents explaining the conversation with the Corps liaison and expressing the school’s disappointment, but readiness to pivot.

“Certainly, it was intended just for our parents. It got a lot of public attention, as we know and so certainly, one of the silver linings, I guess, is seeing the interests that our community and other partners have in ing women in STEM education and a great amount of outreach that reminds us of how our mission to serve girls is so important,” Weston says.

Weston let parents know she is working with the National Association of Independent Schools and the International Coalition of Girl’s Schools on the matter and ensuring that special programs will still be offered to students.

“We will next week, host a of speakers who again, will be an introduction to what the full day may have looked like, and we’ll continue to look at what other opportunities we might have,” Weston says. “We’re hopeful we can partner again with those federal agencies, the military and other areas of work that our girls might not typically be exposed to.”

Weston says the Army Corps liaison let the school know their future participation in events will depend on directions from the istration and clarification on the executive order banning DEI.

“I think it’s important that all students get exposure to what opportunities are out for them when they finish their education, “Weston says. “And some of those will be great civil servants that will serve our government, like the young women that have come in and been partners with us, and some will go into private work. And I think it’s important for them to see both.”

Some parents, alumnae and school officials shared their opinions online, expressing disappointment about the cancelled event since many saw it benefit students in the past.

“I know for many of our girls, even seeing opportunities within the military that are not what you would consider traditional fields, but seeing what their STEM education could potentially do, there is another exposure that just expands what they’re thinking about in of their opportunities,” Weston says.

Weston says she doesn’t want her school or students to be considered a victim in this situation, but simply an impacted party who will rearrange their efforts as needed to continue offering opportunities for students.

“I do think times of transition are unsettling for everyone, and I think there certainly are lots of reactions for us. We’re staying committed to our mission, which is to serve girls, to produce educated girls and young women who are ethically responsible and prepared to meet their futures, and we will continue to do that,” Weston says. “We also have a mission to make the city in which we dwell a better place, and so we will continue that work as well.”

The Army Corps of Engineers released a statement provided to Ashley Hill:

“Federal agencies such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Charleston District, are subject to the 22 January 2025 Executive Order terminating DEI in the Executive Branch, and the general pause on outreach initiatives. Accordingly, the Charleston District (including through Federal Executive Association) is not able to participate in or coordinate the Introduce a Girl to STEM outreach event at Ashley Hall this year. Future participation in this or other outreach initiatives will depend upon guidance in effect at the time.”

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