The US Department of Education announced that it is investigating two Michigan universities for potentially violating the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964. The department’s Office of Civil Rights is examining whether the University of Michigan and Grand Valley State University have been offering programs or scholarships with eligibility criteria based on race.
While the department has not provided extensive details on the investigation, the claims suggest that these institutions may be engaging in practices that could be discriminatory. Specifically, the Department is concerned that the universities’ racial eligibility requirements for certain programs may be in violation of federal law.
Allegations of race-based eligibility criteria
The investigation focuses on the University of Michigan’s involvement with The Ph.D. Project, a network that connects doctoral students from underrepresented backgrounds. As reported by the Michigan Public, the Department of Education alleges that the university, which is one of 45 schools involved with The Ph.D. Project, may be violating civil rights laws by limiting eligibility based on race.
However, Professor Germine Awad, a faculty member at the University of Michigan, disagrees with these claims. As quoted by the Michigan Public, Awad explained that programs like The Ph.D. Project are not race-exclusive but rather designed to identify and support students from underrepresented backgrounds. “A lot of these programs are just meant to try to identify folks from backgrounds that haven’t traditionally been a part of academia, but they’re typically open to everyone,” she said.
Grand Valley State University’s scholarships under scrutiny
The Department of Education is also investigating Grand Valley State University, particularly its race-specific scholarships. While the department has not disclosed which scholarships are under review, it is reportedly evaluating 11 scholarships out of more than 500 available at the university. As reported by the Michigan Public, the Department alleges that these scholarships may violate the Civil Rights Act due to race-based eligibility criteria.
However, Grand Valley State University has denied the allegations. According to the Michigan Public, a statement from the university clarified that its scholarships, though aimed at increasing diversity, are still open to all students. The university remains committed to complying with applicable laws while fostering an inclusive environment.
Impact of the investigations
The ongoing investigations have sparked significant concerns about academic freedom and the future of race-conscious policies in education. As reported by the Michigan Public, Awad believes these investigations are part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to challenge initiatives that aim to address racial inequities in higher education. Despite the investigation, she emphasized that the university’s commitment to inclusion remains steadfast.
Both universities have yet to issue formal responses to the Department of Education’s claims. The outcome of these investigations could have far-reaching implications for race-based programs and scholarships in US higher education.
