LOUISVILLE, KY — The University of Kentucky (UK) is among 45 universities under investigation by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights for allegedly engaging in race-exclusionary practices in their graduate programs. The investigation, announced Friday, centers on claims that these institutions violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act by partnering with the “Ph.D. Project,” an organization that provides doctoral students with insights into obtaining a Ph.D. but limits eligibility based on race.
In a written statement, a UK spokesperson said, “We are aware of the release this morning from the Department of Education Office of Civil Rights. We have not received any official notification of this review, so we cannot comment further. We will continue to monitor this issue moving forward.”
The investigation comes as Kentucky lawmakers consider House Bill 4, which passed the state House earlier this month. The bill seeks to prohibit differential treatment in hiring, admissions, scholarships, and contracts based on religion, race, sex, color, or national origin. In anticipation of the bill, UK closed its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) office last year.
The push to eliminate DEI practices has been a focal point of recent federal efforts. Last month, the Department of Education issued a memo warning schools and colleges that they could lose federal funding if they engage in “race-based preferences” in admissions, scholarships, or other aspects of student life. Education Secretary Linda McMahon emphasized, “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 list of universities under investigation includes major public institutions like Arizona State, Ohio State, and Rutgers, as well as prestigious private schools such as Yale, Cornell, Duke, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Ohio State University released a statement asserting that it “does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, or any other protected class, and our Ph.D. programs are open to all qualified applicants.”
In addition to the 45 universities tied to the Ph.D. Project, six other institutions are being investigated for awarding “impermissible race-based scholarships,” and one is accused of running a program that segregates students by race. These schools include Grand Valley State University, Ithaca College, the New England College of Optometry, the University of Alabama, the University of Minnesota, the University of South Florida, and the University of Oklahoma at Tulsa.
The Department of Education’s actions stem from a February 14 memo issued by the Trump administration, which expanded on a 2023 Supreme Court decision barring colleges from using race as a factor in admissions. While the Supreme Court’s decision specifically addressed admissions policies at Harvard and the University of North Carolina, the Education Department has interpreted it to prohibit race-based policies in all aspects of education, from K-12 schools to higher education.
Craig Trainor, acting assistant secretary for civil rights, criticized DEI efforts in the memo, stating that they have been “smuggling racial stereotypes and explicit race-consciousness into everyday training, programming, and discipline.” However, the memo is facing legal challenges from the nation’s two largest teachers’ unions, which argue that it is overly vague and violates educators’ free speech rights.
As the investigation unfolds, the University of Kentucky and other institutions find themselves at the center of a national debate over diversity, equity, and inclusion in education. For UK, the scrutiny comes at a time of significant change, as the university adjusts to new state legislation and shifts in federal policy.
The outcome of the investigation could have far-reaching implications for how universities approach diversity initiatives and admissions processes. For now, the University of Kentucky and its peers await further details while continuing to navigate the complex and evolving landscape of higher education policy.
The full list of universities under investigation includes:
– Arizona State University – Main Campus
– Boise State University
– Cal Poly Humboldt
– California State University – San Bernardino
– Carnegie Mellon University
– Clemson University
– Cornell University
– Duke University
– Emory University
– George Mason University
– Georgetown University
– Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
– Montana State University-Bozeman
– New York University (NYU)
– Rice University
– Rutgers University
– The Ohio State University – Main Campus
– Towson University
– Tulane University
– University of Arkansas – Fayetteville
– University of California-Berkeley
– University of Chicago
– University of Cincinnati – Main Campus
– University of Colorado – 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
– University of Oregon
– University of Rhode Island
– University of Utah
– University of Washington-Seattle
– University of Wisconsin-Madison
– University of Wyoming
– Vanderbilt University
– Washington State University
– Washington University in St. Louis
– Yale University
As the nation watches, the investigation serves as a reminder of the ongoing tensions between efforts to promote diversity and the legal and political challenges those efforts face. For now, the University of Kentucky and its peers must navigate this uncertain terrain while striving to uphold their missions of education and inclusion.
