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By Darius Spearman (africanelements)
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Who’s Under Investigation?
45 Colleges Face Federal DEI Probes
In March 2025, the U.S. Department of Education launched investigations into 45 colleges with DEI programs linked to The PhD Project. The initiative—aimed at increasing faculty diversity in business schools—was labeled “discriminatory” for allegedly restricting mentorship to students of color. High-profile schools like MIT, Yale, and Arizona State are among those under scrutiny (Axios).
Six other universities face probes over race-based scholarships granting money only to minority applicants. Meanwhile, one school was accused of running a program that “segregates students.” Federal officials argue that such policies violate Title VI, bans racial exclusion in federally funded activities. For example, the PhD Project’s website states its mission is to diversify academia, but critics claim this excludes white candidates (LiveNow Fox).
How Title VI Enforcement Works
How Title VI Shapes DEI Enforcement
Title VI mandates that federally funded institutions—including universities—don’t discriminate based on race. The 1964 Civil Rights Act provision recently became a key tool to challenge DEI initiatives. Federal officials now argue that programs like racially exclusive scholarships or mentorship violate equal treatment rules (DOJ).
For instance, the Department of Education claims that the PhD Project’s focus on Black, Latino, and Native American scholars amounts to illegal exclusion. However, the program’s supporters say it corrects systemic underrepresentation in faculty ranks. Ohio State—one of the schools under review—argues its policies follow “neutral, race-blind standards” (PBS).
Potential Consequences of Noncompliance
Impact on Students and Campus Diversity
Scholarships reserved for students of color—like Florida A&M’s $10,000 Black Scholars Fund—are now at risk. If banned, beneficiaries may lose critical financial aid. Meanwhile, DEI offices nationwide are scaling back mentorship programs amid legal uncertainty (PBS).
However, supporters of the crackdown argue that “colorblind” policies ensure fairness. For example, a Louisiana court recently blocked federal agencies from penalizing schools over “disparate impact” policies that are not explicitly race-based. Critics counter that this ignores systemic barriers minority students still face (DOJ).
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Darius Spearman has been a professor of Black Studies at San Diego City College since 2007. He is the author of several books, including Between The Color Lines: A History of African Americans on the California Frontier Through 1890. You can visit Darius online at africanelements.org.
