WASHINGTON — In a recent move by President Donald Trump’s administration, over 50 universities are under scrutiny for alleged racial discrimination. This investigation is part of a broader initiative to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, which officials argue are unfairly disadvantaging white and Asian American students.
The U.S. Department of Education announced these investigations on Friday, about a month after releasing a memo that warned educational institutions could risk losing federal funding if found favoring “race-based preferences” in admissions or other student life areas. Education Secretary Linda McMahon emphasized the importance of evaluating students based on merit and achievements rather than racial background, underscoring a zero-tolerance stance on the issue.
The investigation largely targets universities collaborating with the PhD Project, an organization dedicated to increasing diversity in the business sector by aiding underrepresented groups in acquiring business degrees. Officials contend that the organization’s race-based eligibility criteria result in exclusionary practices in graduate programs at institutions that partner with it.
Among the 45 colleges in the crosshairs include well-known public universities such as Arizona State University, Ohio State University, and Rutgers, as well as elite private institutions like Yale University, Cornell University, Duke University, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Responding to these claims, the PhD Project stated their commitment to developing a diverse pool of business leaders, expressing openness in their membership applications for this goal.
Arizona State University clarified that its business school ceased financial support for the PhD Project this year and had informed faculty of its decision to no longer support travels to the nonprofit’s conference. Ohio State University affirmed its non-discriminatory stance, ensuring that all qualified applicants, irrespective of race or ethnicity, have access to their PhD programs.
In addition, six other universities are being investigated for bestowing “impermissible race-based scholarships,” including Grand Valley State University, Ithaca College, the New England College of Optometry, the University of Alabama, the University of South Florida, and the University of Oklahoma at Tulsa. It was initially misstated that the University of Tulsa was part of this list.
Further scrutiny is directed at the University of Minnesota for accusations of running a racially segregated program. This initiative builds upon a February 14 memo expanding a Supreme Court ruling from 2023 that prevented colleges from using race as an admissions factor. Although that decision primarily scrutinized Harvard University and the University of North Carolina, the Department of Education plans to interpret the ruling as prohibiting race-based policies across both K-12 schools and higher education.
Craig Trainor, acting assistant secretary for civil rights, in a memo, argued that many diversity, equity, and inclusion programs inadvertently perpetuate racial stereotypes and explicit racial considerations in educational settings. However, this directive faces opposition through lawsuits from the nation’s leading teachers’ unions, claiming that the memo’s ambiguity infringes upon educators’ free speech rights.
