The US Division of Schooling has launched a sweeping probe into dozens of universities that allegedly use discriminatory race-based applications to spice up minorities, officers stated Friday.
The investigation of 45 schools — together with New York College, Cornell and Rutgers — stems from the colleges allegedly operating a PhD program that discriminates based mostly on pores and skin shade, a violation of Title VI, which authorizes federal pupil monetary support, the division stated in a press launch.
The faculties’ program, a part of a nonprofit effort often called “The Ph.D. Mission,” gives black, Hispanic and Native American doctoral college students with assist getting their diploma but additionally “limits eligibility based mostly on the race of members,” in keeping with the press launch.
“The Division is working to reorient civil rights enforcement to make sure all college students are protected against unlawful discrimination,” stated US Secretary of Schooling Linda McMahon within the launch.
“As we speak’s announcement expands our efforts to make sure universities will not be discriminating towards their college students based mostly on race and race stereotypes,” she stated. “College students should be assessed in keeping with advantage and accomplishment, not prejudged by the colour of their pores and skin.”
The division’s Workplace for Civil Rights can be investigating six universities for allegedly awarding race-based scholarships and one accused of operating a program that segregates college students on the premise of race.
The company has already launched probes involving Title VI — which was created underneath the Civil Rights Act of 1964 — and universities the place antisemitic harassment and intercourse discrimination have been reported, McMahon stated.
The investigations middle on many state colleges, together with Ohio State College, the College of California-Berkeley and the College of New Mexico together with Ivy Leagues similar to Yale College.
The probes come after the division’s civil rights workplace despatched out a letter Feb. 14 demanding that colleges finish using racial preferences.
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