Affirmative Action: DOE Investigates Dozens of Universities

The US Department of Education (DOE) has announced investigations into over fifty different universities for allegedly employing affirmative action and racial preference policies in its programs and scholarships. 

Universities to be investigated include top-ranked institutions such as Cornell, Duke, Georgetown, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and many others. 

Preceded by investigations into universities reportedly permitting antisemitic harassment and sex-based discrimination, the latest investigations focus on universities hosting programs and scholarships with race-based eligibility criteria.

The bulk of the investigations concern universities’ partnership with  “The Ph.D. Project,” an academic development program with race-based eligibility. 

Other universities are facing investigations due to reports of scholarship and educational programs whose admissions programs discriminate on the basis of race. 

“Today’s announcement expands our efforts to ensure universities are not discriminating against their students based on race and race stereotypes,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon.

Progressives who have championed Affirmative Action policies conversely claim they benefit racial minorities.

Last February, DOE emphasized President Donald Trump’s administration’s commitment to preventing racial discrimination from universities receiving federal funds - a practice made illegal by the US Supreme Court’s Students for Fair Admissions decision.

In Students for Fair Admissions, SCOTUS ruled it unconstitutional for entities receiving federal funds to employ race-based practices in admissions, hiring, promotion, and similar occurrences. 

"The student must be treated based on his or her experiences as an individual—not on the basis of race,” wrote Chief Justice John Roberts.

SCOTUS’ decision effectively exposed federal funds-receiving institutions to investigations and potential prosecution for executing race-based policies.

 “Students must be assessed according to merit and accomplishment, not prejudged by the color of their skin,” concluded Secretary McMahon.