The Trump administration has opened investigations into the admissions insurance policies at Stanford College and three campuses inside the College of California system, together with UC Berkeley, UCLA and UC Irvine, the Division of Justice mentioned Thursday.
U.S. Lawyer Normal Pam Bondi has directed the division’s Civil Rights Division to analyze whether or not the colleges’ insurance policies adjust to the 2023 U.S. Supreme Courtroom ruling that ended affirmative motion in faculty admissions, the division mentioned in an announcement.
Since taking workplace in January, President Donald Trump has tried to dismantle variety, fairness and inclusion packages that his administration says exclude white and Asian American college students. The administration has warned colleges and faculties they might lose federal cash over “race-based preferences” in admissions, hiring, scholarships and all elements of campus life.
The newest motion comes after the U.S. Division of Schooling mentioned it was investigating 52 universities for alleged racial discrimination earlier this month. Most of these colleges have been informed these investigations have been as a consequence of a partnership with a nonprofit group that aimed to assist college students of coloration get doctoral levels.
“President Trump and I are devoted to ending unlawful discrimination and restoring merit-based alternative throughout the nation,” Bondi mentioned within the assertion. “Each scholar in America deserves to be judged solely based mostly on their laborious work, mind, and character, not the colour of their pores and skin.”
Stanford mentioned in an announcement Thursday that after the Supreme Courtroom ruling, it took instant steps to make sure its admissions course of complied with the legislation.
“We proceed to be dedicated to fulfilling our obligations underneath the legislation,” the assertion mentioned. The varsity mentioned it had not been informed particularly why it was being investigated. “We don’t have particulars about immediately’s announcement, however we look ahead to studying extra about their issues and responding to the division’s questions.”
The College of California didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
Individually, the U.S. Division of Well being and Human Providers mentioned it was investigating “a serious medical college in California” for alleged racial discrimination in admissions. The assertion didn’t identify the varsity. It mentioned the motion was in response to info the Workplace for Civil Rights had acquired. It didn’t give specifics.
The Trump administration additionally launched an investigation Thursday into the California Division of Schooling. At difficulty is a legislation that claims districts can’t power lecturers and workers to inform mother and father if a scholar adjustments their gender identification at college.
