The U.S. Department of Education has launched investigations into 52 universities in 41 states, accusing the schools of using "racial preferences and stereotypes in education programs and activities."
On Friday, the department's Office of Civil Rights said that 45 schools, particularly their graduate programs, violated the 1964 Civil Rights Act by partnering with , a nonprofit that helps students from underrepresented groups earn doctoral degrees in business. The program focuses on supporting Black, Latino and Native American students.
The Education Department alleges that The PhD Project limits eligibility based on the race of participants, and therefore, universities involved with the organization are engaging in "race-exclusionary practices."
"Students must be assessed according to merit and accomplishment, not prejudged by the color of their skin. We will not yield on this commitment," Education Secretary Linda McMahon said .
The PhD Project did not immediately responded to a request for comment.
The schools under investigation include dozens of state schools and two Ivy Leagues, namely Cornell and Yale. A number of private schools are also facing scrutiny, include Duke, Emory, Georgetown, Vanderbilt, Rice, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and New York University. The full list of schools is .
Six additional institutions of higher education are being probed for awarding alleged "impermissible race-based scholarships." Another one has been accused of "administering a program that segregates students on the basis of race."
The seven schools affected 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 of Education did not respond to NPR's request to clarify which school is being accused of segregation.
The American Association of Colleges and Universities and
the N
ational Association of Independent Colleges and Universities also did not immediately respond to NPR's requests for comment.
The department's inquiries come a month after it issued a letter to stop using "race-based preferences" in admissions, financial aid, hiring, training and other areas or risk losing federal funding. The directive specifically accused American educational institutions of discriminating against white and Asian students.
Two of the country's largest teacher unions 鈥� the National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers 鈥� have filed separate federal lawsuits against the Education Department memo, arguing that it was unfounded and vague.
The letter and the onslaught of investigations are all part of the Trump administration's aim to ban diversity, equity and inclusion programs in the name of fighting "wokeness."
The Education Department has also been over allegations of antisemitic discrimination. A handful of schools are involved in both sets of investigations, including Cornell, George Mason, Rutgers, Yale, University of Wisconsin, Madison, and University of Washington-Seattle.
Earlier this week, the department warned that universities could face "potential enforcement actions" if officials determine that schools failed to protect Jewish students on campus.
The growing number of investigations against higher education institutions also comes as the Education Department faces drastic cuts in staff. This week, in the department's Office for Civil Rights were laid off, many of whom were attorneys who investigate complaints from families who believe a school has discriminated against their child.
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