Until earlier this year, The PhD Project, a program designed to assist Black and Latino students in pursuing business degrees, was relatively obscure. However, its notoriety increased in January when conservative strategist Christopher Rufo highlighted it on social media, catching the attention of Republican politicians. Now, the initiative is embroiled in the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in higher education.
The U.S. Department of Education recently announced investigations into several universities for alleged racial discrimination due to their connections with this nonprofit organization. This came after a cautionary note indicated that institutions might face loss of federal aid over “race-based preferences” across various aspects of student life.
The announcement of these investigations has left university administrators surprised and bewildered, leading many to quickly dissociate from The PhD Project, which has been pivotal in diversifying business education and academia. This series of events underscores an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty in academia, as the Trump administration enforces policies aligning with its agenda, amidst the potential dismantling of the Education Department.
The administration has further requested colleges explain their association with The PhD Project. Although many nonprofits focus on advancing minority representation in higher education, The PhD Project garnered attention primarily following Rufo’s posts linking it to college activities, as noted by Jonathan Fansmith from the American Council on Education.
The investigation encompasses 45 institutions, including notable universities such as Arizona State, Ohio State, and UC Berkeley, alongside private entities like Yale, Cornell, Duke, and MIT. These institutions received notifications from the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights regarding an alleged discrimination based on race or ethnicity due to past affiliations with The PhD Project. A deadline for providing detailed information about these relationships has been set for March 31.
In a statement, The PhD Project emphasized its goal of “creating a broader talent pipeline” in business leadership and mentioned its recent inclusive membership strategy. University responses have been cautiously measured, signaling willingness to cooperate with federal probes, as aggressive opposition could risk severe federal funding consequences.
The University of Kentucky has already ended its association with the nonprofit, while the University of Wyoming aims to discontinue its membership. Similarly, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, clarified the non-involvement of its remaining faculty with the program due to past events.
The backlash against The PhD Project gained traction in Texas, accelerated by Rufo’s posts accusing Texas A&M University of supporting a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) conference. Following political pressure from Governor Greg Abbott, Texas A&M withdrew from the conference, followed by other Texas public universities.
Rufo did not respond to requests for comment. Some of the universities being investigated have questioned the origin of the complaints. Montana State University expressed surprise at the inquiry, asserting it follows all legal protocols.
The investigation also extends to several colleges for offering “impermissible race-based scholarships.” The University of Minnesota faces scrutiny for alleged racial segregation in a student program.
At UC Berkeley, known for its history of student activism, faculty organized a protest against the perceived threats to academic freedom resulting from these federal actions. Chancellor Rich Lyons, although not specifically referencing the current investigation, asserted the importance of safeguarding Berkeley’s foundational values of academic freedom.
This situation highlights broader concerns within the academic community about federal encroachments on educational autonomy and the potential repercussions on institutional funding and inclusive practices in higher education.
