Education Department Investigates 52 Universities for Racial Bias

U.S. Department of Education Investigates Universities for Alleged Racial Preferences

In a sweeping move, the U.S. Department of Education has initiated inquiries into 52 universities across 41 states. The focus of these investigations is on alleged “racial preferences and stereotypes” being utilized within educational programs and activities, a concern that has sparked significant debate in the academic community.

The department’s Office of Civil Rights identified 45 universities, primarily targeting their graduate programs, as potentially violating the 1964 Civil Rights Act. This is linked to their partnerships with The PhD Project, a nonprofit aimed at aiding students from underrepresented groups in achieving doctoral degrees in business. The organization is dedicated to supporting Black, Latino, and Native American students.

The crux of the Education Department’s allegations is that The PhD Project, and by extension the universities involved, may be engaging in “race-exclusionary practices.” Secretary of Education Linda McMahon emphasized the department’s stance by stating, “Students must be assessed according to merit and accomplishment, not prejudged by the color of their skin. We will not yield on this commitment,” as detailed in a press release.

The investigation encompasses a diverse range of institutions, including public state universities and prestigious Ivy League schools such as Cornell and Yale. Other notable private universities under examination include Duke, Emory, Georgetown, Vanderbilt, Rice, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and New York University. A comprehensive list of the involved schools can be found here.

Additionally, six more schools are being investigated for providing “impermissible race-based scholarships,” while another is accused of running a program that segregates students based on race. The institutions named in these probes are Grand Valley State University, Ithaca College, New England College of Optometry, University of Alabama, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, University of South Florida, and University of Oklahoma, Tulsa School of Medicine. The Department has not specified which institution is linked to the segregation accusation.

The ongoing investigations coincide with a previous directive from the department, issued a month earlier, warning educational institutions to cease using “race-based preferences” in areas such as admissions, financial aid, and hiring. This directive accused schools of discriminating against white and Asian students and threatened the withdrawal of federal funding if not adhered to.

In response, two major teacher unions, the National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers, have filed federal lawsuits challenging the department’s memo, labeling it as unfounded and ambiguous. The department’s actions reflect the Trump administration’s broader agenda to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, which it views as part of combating “wokeness.”

Furthermore, the department is also scrutinizing 60 universities over claims of antisemitic discrimination. Some schools, including Cornell, George Mason, Rutgers, Yale, University of Wisconsin, Madison, and University of Washington-Seattle, are subjects of both racial and antisemitic investigations.

This surge in investigations comes amidst significant staff reductions within the Department of Education, where at least 240 employees from the Office for Civil Rights, many of whom were responsible for handling discrimination complaints, were recently laid off. This reduction in manpower could impact the department’s capacity to manage the increasing caseload.