Trump administration investigating race-based programs at universities

The Department of Education launched investigations into over 50 colleges suspected of maintaining race-based programs, offering scholarships based on racial preferences, or segregation, according to a Friday news release. Officials are working to recenter civil rights enforcement so that all students are protected from discrimination, Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said. This department will not yield in its mission to ensure that students are judged on their accomplishments and not just their skin color, McMahon added.

The department began cracking down on discrimination by launching earlier investigations into alleged widespread anti-Semitic harassment on university campuses, according to the statement. Investigators planned to scrutinize Ivy League schools like Cornell University, MIT, and Yale University. Other high-ranking institutions across the country will also be reviewed, including Duke University, Rice University, and California State University-San Bernardino, to name a few.

What kind of violations are being investigated? Officials began investigating 45 schools for partnering with The Ph.D. Project, a nonprofit with the stated aim of helping doctoral students receive support and foster networks while in school. Eligibility for the organization’s programs is limited to students of specific races and schools partnering with The Ph.D. Project are violating the Civil Rights Act, according to the Department of Education. The DOE is also investigating six other schools for maintaining race-based scholarship programs. One more school is also being investigated for allegedly offering a program that racially segregates students, according to the department.

WORLD reached out to The Ph.D. Project for comment, but as of Friday afternoon had not received a reply.

Dig deeper: Read Lauren Canterberry’s report on the Department of Education laying off nearly half of its workforce.