The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has determined that George Mason University (GMU) violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by using race and other immutable characteristics in university practices, including hiring and promotion. The finding was communicated to GMU President Gregory Washington.
OCR has provided a proposed Resolution Agreement to GMU, giving the university 10 days to address the identified violations.
“In 2020, University President Gregory Washington called for expunging the so-called ‘racist vestiges’ from GMU’s campus. Without a hint of self awareness, President Washington then waged a university-wide campaign to implement unlawful DEI policies that intentionally discriminate on the basis of race. You can’t make this up,” said Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor. “Despite this unfortunate chapter in Mason’s history, the University now has the opportunity to come into compliance with federal civil rights laws by entering into a Resolution Agreement with the Office for Civil Rights. In the last seven months, this much is clear: The Trump-McMahon Department of Education will not allow racially exclusionary practices—which violate the Civil Rights Act, the Equal Protection Clause, and Supreme Court precedent—to continue corrupting our nation’s educational institutions.”
If accepted by GMU, the proposed agreement would require several actions:
- The president must issue a statement to all students and employees affirming that recruitment, hiring, promotion, and tenure decisions will comply with Title VI.
- This statement must include a personal apology from President Washington for promoting unlawful discriminatory practices.
- The statement should be posted prominently on GMU's website while removing any contradictory statements.
- GMU must review and revise its recruitment and hiring documents to remove provisions encouraging or requiring racial considerations.
- Annual training must be conducted for those involved in hiring decisions regarding compliance with Title VI.
- The university is required to maintain records demonstrating compliance and assign an individual responsible for coordinating implementation with OCR.
OCR began its investigation on July 10, 2025 after receiving complaints from multiple professors alleging that since 2020, GMU leadership had implemented policies giving preferential treatment to faculty candidates from underrepresented groups as part of anti-racism efforts.
According to OCR findings, certain university policies allowed waiving competitive searches when hiring candidates who advance diversity goals. Additionally, job offers required approval from various administrative levels including an office previously known as Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Title VI prohibits discrimination based on race, color or national origin at institutions receiving federal funds; violations may result in loss of such funding.
