The College Fix

Schools accused of violating Title VI through partnership with exclusionary nonprofit 

The U.S. Department of Education announced Friday that it has launched Title VI investigations into 45 universities for reportedly using “race-exclusionary practices” in their graduate programs.

The universities have been accused of violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act through partnerships with “The Ph.D. Project,” a nonprofit that aims to provide minority students with networking opportunities and help them earn a Ph.D. However, it limits eligibility based on race, the department stated in a news release.

Some of the universities under investigation for their graduate programs include Arizona State University, Cornell University, Duke University, New York University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, California State University, San Bernardino, Ohio State University, and Rutgers University.

In addition, the Office for Civil Rights is “investigating six universities for allegedly awarding impermissible race-based scholarships and one university for allegedly administering a program that segregates students on the basis of race,” the department stated.

These schools include Grand Valley State University, Ithaca College, New England College of Optometry, the University of Alabama, the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, the University of South Florida, and the University of Oklahoma, Tulsa School of Community Medicine.

“The agency has already launched Title VI investigations into institutions where widespread antisemitic harassment has been reported and Title IX investigations into entities which allegedly continue to allow sex discrimination; today’s announcement expands our efforts to ensure universities are not discriminating against their students based on race and race stereotypes,” U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said, according to the news release.

“Students must be assessed according to merit and accomplishment, not prejudged by the color of their skin. We will not yield on this commitment,” she said.

The investigations follow a “Dear Colleague letter” issued by the OCR last month, threatening to cut federal funds from universities with “diversity, equity, and inclusion” programs, The College Fix previously reported.

The letter states that the 2023 Supreme Court decision Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard covers more than just banning race-based admissions practices.

“Federal law thus prohibits covered entities from using race in decisions pertaining to admissions, hiring, promotion, compensation, financial aid, scholarships, prizes, administrative support, discipline, housing, graduation ceremonies, and all other aspects of student, academic, and campus life,” the letter states.

In Texas, one university faced immediate backlash for planning to send representatives to a “Ph.D. Project” conference this month. Texas A&M University walked back the decision “after online accusations and threats—including from the governor,” Inside Higher Ed reported.

Christopher Rufo, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, stated in a post on X that funding the conference trip breached a state law prohibiting DEI programs at public universities.

Soon after, the state’s Republican Gov. Greg Abbott wrote in a post on X, “It’s against Texas law and violates the US Constitution. It will be fixed immediately or the president will soon be gone.”

IMAGE CAPTION AND CREDIT: U.S. Department of Education logo and American flag; Racide from Getty Images/Canva Pro

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