BUZZ
‘Students must be assessed according to merit and accomplishment, not prejudged by the color of their skin’
A year ago, the federal Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights began Title VI investigations into over 40 universities’ associations with the nonprofit The PhD Project for allegedly using “race-exclusionary practices” in their graduate programs.
The DOE had alleged in a March 2025 press release that The PhD Project “purports to provide doctoral students with insights into obtaining a Ph.D. and networking opportunities, but limits eligibility based on the race of participants.”
In the face of criticism, including from Governor Greg Abbott, Texas A&M University ended up backtracking on sending representatives to a PhD Project conference that same month.
Secretary of Education Linda McMahon had proclaimed “Students must be assessed according to merit and accomplishment, not prejudged by the color of their skin.”
This past Thursday, the DOE announced it had “secured thirty-one resolution agreements” with various universities to sever relationships with The PhD Project.
In addition, “each institution also agreed to conduct a review of their partnerships with external organizations to identify any that violate Title VI by restricting participation based on race.”
Secretary McMahon said “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.”
Universities partaking in the agreement include:
- Arizona State
- Clemson
- Duke
- Emory
- MIT
- Rice
- Ohio State
- Tulane
- UC Berkeley
- U. Chicago
- U. Delaware
- U. Kentucky
- U. Michigan
- U. Minnesota
- Yale
PJ Media reports the DOE “is still negotiating” with another 14 higher ed. institutions over their relationships with The PhD Project.
MORE: Education Dept. probes Louisiana regents over plan to boost non-white enrollment
MORE: Stanford suspends two student co-ops over antisemitic, anti-white Title VI violations
