EXCLUSIVE — The Department of Education has opened investigations into 45 colleges, including some of the nation’s most prestigious institutions, over their alleged refusal to end racial preferences in Ph.D. programming.
According to federal education officials, the schools may be violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act by partnering with “The PhD Project,” an organization that gives doctoral students insight and networking opportunities toward obtaining a Ph.D. but limits eligibility based on race.
“The Department is working to reorient civil rights enforcement to ensure all students are protected from illegal discrimination. 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,” Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said in a statement.
“Today’s announcement expands our efforts to ensure universities are not discriminating against their students based on race and race stereotypes,” she added. “Students must be assessed according to merit and accomplishment, not prejudged by the color of their skin. We will not yield on this commitment.”
The Washington Examiner has contacted the 45 colleges, detailed below, for comment on the investigations.
Six other schools stand accused of awarding race-based scholarships, and one allegedly administers a program that segregates students based on race.
The investigations come as universities and government offices nationwide have taken steps to scale back diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in light of new direction from the Trump administration. Last month, the University of Iowa ended its partnership with The PhD Project after efforts at the state level to prohibit DEI offices.
The Education Department took several steps over the last several weeks before launching the investigations. On Feb. 14, the department sent out a Dear Colleague letter directing the schools to halt the use of racial preferences and “stereotypes” in any education programs.
On March 1, it followed up by releasing a frequently asked questions document providing additional information. The Education Department says the schools in question are still discriminating on the basis of race in violation of civil rights laws.
The news also comes just one day after McMahon warned 60 colleges and universities to “do better” to stop antisemitism on campus, saying there will be consequences if they do not protect Jewish students.
The 45 schools being investigated for allegedly engaging in race-exclusionary practices in their graduate programs are:
Arizona State University – Main Campus: A spokesperson said, “The W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University on Feb. 20 informed relevant faculty members that the school would not be supporting their travel to the upcoming PhD Project Conference. The school also this year is not financially supporting the PhD Project organization.”
Boise State University: A spokesperson said, “We received the letter and we are working with our general counsel’s office to look into the matter.”
Cal Poly Humboldt: A spokesperson said, “The California State University has recently learned of the investigations and will be reviewing and seeking to understand the nature of the claim and will cooperate with the Department of Education Office of Civil Rights in any investigation. The CSU continues to comply with longstanding applicable federal and state laws and CSU policies and does not discriminate or provide preferences on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. CSU remains committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable learning environment that is open to all. CSU respects the diverse opinions and viewpoints of our students, staff and faculty.”
California State University – San Bernardino: See statement above, as both schools are part of the CSU system.
Carnegie Mellon University: A spokesperson said, “Carnegie Mellon University has not yet received notice of the investigation from the Department of Education. When we have more information about the complaint and investigation, we will carefully review the matter to determine next steps and ensure compliance with the law.”
Clemson University
Cornell University
Duke University
Emory University
George Mason University
Georgetown University
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Montana State University-Bozeman
New York University
Rice University: The school declined comment.
Rutgers University
The Ohio State University – Main Campus
Towson University: A spokesperson said, “We are reviewing the OCR notice of investigation. All the while, our focus remains on providing the life-changing educational and experiential opportunities that our students have come to expect from our university.”
Tulane University
University of Arkansas – Fayetteville
University of California-Berkeley: Assistant Vice Chancellor Dan Mogulof said, “UC Berkeley has an unwavering commitment to having a campus free of discrimination. We will respond to any complaints or allegations through the process prescribed by the DOE.”
University of Chicago
University of Cincinnati – Main Campus
University of Colorado at Colorado Springs
University of Delaware
University of Kansas
University of Kentucky
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
University of Nebraska at Omaha
University of New Mexico – Main Campus
University of North Dakota – Main Campus
University of North Texas – Denton
University of Notre Dame
University of Nevada – Las Vegas: A spokesperson said, “UNLV is aware of the federal investigation. Three former UNLV professors were participants in the mentoring program known as the PHD Project. Two of them are no longer with UNLV. The third person was Patricia Navarro Velez, a beloved professor who was tragically killed on our campus by a gunman on Dec. 6, 2023. In accordance with the Nevada System of Higher Education policy, UNLV is committed to and will provide equality of educational and employment opportunity for all persons regardless of race, sex, age, color, national origin, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender, genetic information, pregnancy, or veteran status.”
University of Oregon: A spokesperson said, “We take this complaint seriously. We have recently reviewed all of our practices and believe that the University of Oregon is in compliance with the law. We have continued to review policies and practices in light of the Administration’s Executive Orders and look forward to working with the Office for Civil Rights to resolve this complaint.”
University of Rhode Island
University of Utah: A spokesperson said, “The University of Utah is aware of the investigation into U.S. colleges and universities who have worked with The PhD Project to make advanced business education accessible to students from underrepresented groups.” Utah is a state that has formally banned DEI programs.
University of Washington-Seattle
University of Wisconsin-Madison
University of Wyoming: The school released a lengthy statement reading in part, “The University of Wyoming will cooperate with an investigation by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights — and, in fact, is already taking steps in response to alleged ‘race-exclusionary’ practices by a national organization that has been connected with graduate programs in one of the university’s colleges.” The university is discontinuing its relationship with The Ph.D. Project owing to a state law that prohibits it from engaging in DEI programs, according to the statement.
Vanderbilt University
Washington State University
Washington University in St. Louis
Yale University
Schools under investigation for potentially using race-based scholarships and race-based segregation are:
Grand Valley State University: A university spokesperson said, “GVSU has received notice that the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights has opened an investigation reviewing eleven scholarships available to Grand Valley students. We are reviewing this communication and will respond as appropriate. Grand Valley State University is committed to maintaining an inclusive environment while complying with all applicable laws.”
Ithaca College: Director of Public Relations Dave Maley said, “Ithaca College does not discriminate on the basis of race in the awarding of the scholarships cited in the Title VI Complaint.” Maley pointed to the criteria for two scholarships in question, which can be found here and here.
New England College of Optometry
University of Alabama
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
University of South Florida
University of Oklahoma-Tulsa School of Community Medicine
The PhD Project released a statement of its own Friday afternoon.
“For the last 30 years, The PhD Project has worked to expand the pool of workplace talent by developing business school faculty who inspire, mentor, and support tomorrow’s leaders,” it reads. “Our vision is to create a broader talent pipeline of current and future business leaders who are committed to excellence and to each other through networking, mentorship, and unique events. This year, we have opened our membership application to anyone who shares that vision. The PhD Project was founded with the goal of providing more role models in the front of business classrooms, which remains our goal today.”
The Department of Education says it will make sure that acceptance to any programs at schools receiving federal funding will be based on merit.
“Discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin is illegal and morally reprehensible,” Craig Trainor, Education Department assistant secretary for civil rights, wrote in the Feb. 14 Dear Colleague letter. “Accordingly, I write to clarify and reaffirm the nondiscrimination obligations of schools and other entities that receive federal financial assistance from the United States Department of Education.”
The Department of Education doles out billions of dollars in grants and other funding each year, meaning the threat to revoke funding is one schools will take seriously.
The DEI movement exploded across the national scene in 2020, including at universities across the country. But conservatives alleged that it amounted to illegal discrimination, and DEI has been pared back by President Donald Trump since he took office on Jan. 20.
Trainor wrote that white and Asian students in particular have faced discrimination on the basis of race, even when they come from low-income families, in a movement that has reached “every facet of academia,” including admissions, financial aid, hiring, and training.
“In a shameful echo of a darker period in this country’s history, many American schools and universities even encourage segregation by race at graduation ceremonies and in dormitories and other facilities,” he wrote.
Democrats counting on Trump mistakes to fuel their revival
The Supreme Court struck down race-based admissions in the 2023 Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard case. Trump signed an executive order aimed at dismantling all DEI initiatives within the federal government on Inauguration Day.
The Education Department’s investigations come as the agency has laid off over 1,300 employees this week as part of the Trump administration’s efforts to reduce the size of the federal government.
Of the 4,133 Education Department staff members Trump inherited, 259 accepted the deferred “fork in the road” resignations, 313 accepted separation payments of $25,000, 63 probationary employees were let go last month, and another 1,315 will now be laid off.
