Colleges in Idaho, Utah, and Washington Investigated for Race-Based Exclusions

More than 40 colleges across the nation have come under scrutiny during the new Trump administration for allowing and encouraging admissions into programs that were based on race.

Among those are one each in Idaho and Utah, and 2 in Washington State.

Utah, Idaho, Washington Colleges Investigated for Race-Based Programs

The investigations were announced in a Press Release on March 14th on the Department of Education website. The U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon stated ‘Students must be assessed according to merit and accomplishment, not prejudged by the color of their skin.’

Most of the college investigations are Title VI violations due to participation in the PhD Project, a group that historically aims to increase the number of Black, Hispanic, and Native American business professionals. Not included in their main focus are white and Asian students working towards a business degree.

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In a recent YouTube video interview, McMahon called it a civil rights issue regarding some defunding that has happened. The Presidential order on March 20th instructs all programs focused on DEI to end those focuses or lose federal funding.

The investigations claim that the universities and colleges on the list, which include Boise State University in Idaho, the University of Utah, the University of Washington-Seattle, and Washington State University, participated in race-based exclusionary practices in graduate program admissions by partnering with the PhD Project.

The PhD Project, in an attempt to give opportunities to underrepresented people, in turn takes away opportunities from other groups. A 2023 Supreme Court decision made it illegal for colleges to use race as a factor in admissions. AP News says the Education Department will ‘forbid race-based policies in any aspect of education’.

There hasn’t been an update on the investigations since mid-March, and the Department of Education doesn’t appear to have a posted timeline for wrapping up the investigations.