3 New York colleges under investigation for alleged civil rights violations: Here’s why – The Times of India

The US education sector has faced multiple challenges since Donald Trump took office. His administration has taken a hard stance on various aspects of education, including alleged violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the directives outlined in the “Dear Colleague” letter.
In a recent development, the US Department of Education (DOE) is investigating more than 50 colleges, including Cornell University, New York University, and Ithaca College, for allegedly violating Title VI, as reported by Democrat & Chronicle.
As a follow-up to the DOE’s Office for Civil Rights’ “Dear Colleague” letter, additional notices were sent to 45 schools, informing them they were under investigation for their alleged partnership with The PhD Project. Six institutions have been accused of “awarding impermissible race-based scholarships,” while one has allegedly “administered a program that segregates students on the basis of race,” as reported by Democrat & Chronicle.

What is Title VI of the Civil Rights Act?

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance. The DOE’s Office for Civil Rights enforces Title VI as it applies to institutions receiving federal funds.
On February 14, the DOE issued a “Dear Colleague” letter, in which Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor directed educational institutions to ensure compliance with existing civil rights laws. Schools were instructed to stop circumventing bans on race-based policies and end any reliance on programs designed to evade those restrictions within 14 days.
Failure to comply could lead to the loss of federal funding. This has already been seen in New York, where the Trump administration pulled approximately $400 million in federal funds from Columbia University earlier this month.

What is The PhD Project?

According to Democrat & Chronicle, The PhD Project’s mission is “to expand the pool of workplace talent by developing business school faculty who encourage, mentor, and support tomorrow’s leaders.”
The ongoing investigations signal a stricter approach by the Trump administration toward race-based programs in education. With federal funding at stake, universities may face significant policy shifts in the coming months. Students and faculty are closely watching how these developments unfold.