The College Fix

Legal expert flags application’s request for racial background

The University of California San Francisco mandates that medical students applying for a specific scholarship showcase their dedication to the school’s “diversity, equity, and inclusion” principles or their engagement with “marginalized” communities.

A legal expert with a conservative think tank told The College Fix the scholarship seems to discriminate based on race, “almost certainly” violating the “Fourteenth Amendment.”

The Visiting Elective Scholarship Program is reserved for fourth-year medical students who are either “disadvantaged, have demonstrated a commitment to working with marginalized and traditionally disenfranchised populations, or have demonstrated a commitment to UCSF’s PRIDE value.”

According to the school, PRIDE stands for Professionalism, Respect, Integrity, Diversity, and Excellence.

The application requires students to “submit a personal statement expressing their ‘commitment to working with diverse communities’ and their involvement in DEI initiatives to proceed to the next phase of the application process,” medical advocacy group Do No Harm reported.

“We would like to know more about how your background and life experiences have influenced involvement in diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism initiatives,” the prompt states. 

Applicants must also answer whether they “consider [themselves] disadvantaged with respect to personal identity or background.”

What’s more, C. Benjamin Ma, chair of the UCSF Department of Orthopedic Surgery, has stated that “Diversity, equity, and inclusion are top strategic priorities for this department,” according to the school’s website.

The College Fix reached out to the scholarship director, Eddie Cruz-Romero, and UCSF School of Medicine via multiple emails to clarify the purpose of the program’s demands. Neither responded.

Bennett Nuss with the National Center for Public Policy Research told The College Fix the program suggests scholarships are awarded for politically motivated reasons.

“Other than an applicant having a professional history of working with patients in economically struggling areas who may not have regular contact with medical practitioners, I struggle to see what use this metric has for the training of the next generation of medical practitioners,” said Nuss, a former general attorney with the Department of Commerce.

He also raised concerns with the application’s request for students’ racial background. He said while it may be related to national regulatory requirements for scholarship programs, the question and response options suggest alternative motives.

MORE: ‘Why do trans women make awesome music,’ New School course asks

Normally, the form would first ask if the applicant identifies as Hispanic or Latino before providing a longer list of racial options to choose from. Applicants must have the ability to not provide a response.

Nuss told The Fix the option of “Other” as a racial identification is “impermissible” for the purpose of a reporting to a mandatory survey system managed by the U.S. Department of Education.

“Considering that an ‘Other’ option is present in the application itself, it lends credence to the potential that this question is not being used for the University’s mandatory statistical disclosures,” said Nuss, who is also a member of the D.C. Bar Association.

“If UCSF is using applicants’ racial identities for consideration in scholarship selection, they are almost certainly violating the Fourteenth Amendment,” he said.

Similarly, Do No Harm Medical Director Kurt Miceli told The Fix this scholarship “makes it abundantly clear that UCSF’s PRIDE values are anchored in a commitment to the divisive political ideology that is DEI.” 

The application “shifts focus away from merit, seeking to learn the applicant’s involvement in DEI and ‘anti-racism initiatives.’ It is more focused on identity than excellence,” he said. 

“Elective clerkships are great opportunities to gain clinical exposure and develop one’s skills; they should be about providing the very best in care to all people and not limiting those opportunities based on identity politics,” he said. 

The controversy surrounding UCSF’s scholarship application requirements comes as the University of California system has officially dropped diversity statements as a requirement for faculty applicants.

MORE: ‘Racially segregated program’ at CU Boulder draws federal complaint

IMAGE CAPTION AND CREDIT: Medical student raises hand during class; SDI Productions/Canva Pro

Like The College Fix on Facebook / Follow us on Twitter