The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced that it has reached resolution agreements with 31 colleges and universities to end their partnerships with The Ph.D. Project. The organization, which provides guidance to doctoral students, was found by OCR to unlawfully restrict eligibility based on race.
OCR began investigating 45 higher education institutions several months ago for collaborating with The Ph.D. Project. Following these investigations, the office determined that these partnerships violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on race in programs receiving federal funding.
According to the Department of Education, the 31 universities involved had either already ended their relationships with The Ph.D. Project or agreed through resolution agreements to do so. Each institution also committed to reviewing other external partnerships to ensure compliance with Title VI and identify any organizations that limit participation by race.
U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon stated, “This is the Trump effect in action: institutions of higher education are agreeing to cut ties with discriminatory organizations, recommitting themselves to abiding by federal law, and restoring equality of opportunity on campuses across the nation. We are hopeful that other institutions with similarly discriminatory practices will follow suit, paving the way for a future where we reject judging individuals by the color of their skin and once again embrace the principles of merit, excellence, and opportunity.”
The schools that have signed agreements include Arizona State University – Main Campus; Boise State University; Carnegie Mellon University; Clemson University; Duke University; Emory University; Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT); Montana State University – Bozeman; New York University (NYU); Rice 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 Kentucky; University of Michigan – Ann Arbor; University of Minnesota – Twin Cities; University of Nebraska – Omaha; University of North Dakota – Main Campus; University of North Texas – Denton; University of Notre Dame; University of Utah; University of Wisconsin – Madison; University of Wyoming; Washington University in St. Louis and Yale University.
Negotiations between OCR and 14 additional schools regarding similar partnerships are ongoing.
Title VI bars discrimination based on race, color or national origin in educational programs or activities receiving federal financial assistance.
