U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights Secures 31 Agreements with Colleges and Universities to End Partnerships with The Ph.D. Project

Today, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced that it has secured thirty-one resolution agreements (RAs) with institutions of higher education to cease their partnerships with The Ph.D. Project, an organization which provides doctoral students with insights into obtaining a Ph.D., but unlawfully limits eligibility based on the race of participants. After initiating investigations several months ago into forty-five institutions of higher education for collaborating with the Ph.D. Project, OCR later determined that these institutions violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI) by partnering with an organization that discriminates on the basis of race.    

These thirty-one universities had either already terminated their relationships with The Ph.D. Project or have agreed in their RAs to end their memberships or partnerships. 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. 

“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,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. “We are hopeful that other institutions with similarly discriminatory practices will follow suit, paving the way for a future where we reject judging individuals by the color of their skin and once again embrace the principles of merit, excellence, and opportunity.” 

The institutions which have signed RAs with OCR to cease their partnership with The Ph.D. Project are: 

• Arizona State University – Main Campus 

• Boise State University 

• Carnegie Mellon University 

• Clemson University 

• Duke University 

• Emory University 

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) 

• Montana State University – Bozeman 

• New York University (NYU) 

• Rice University 

• The Ohio State University – Main Campus 

• Towson University 

• Tulane University 

• University of Arkansas – Fayetteville 

• University of California – Berkeley 

• University of Chicago 

• University of Cincinnati – Main Campus 

• University of Colorado – Colorado Springs 

• University of Delaware 

• University of Kentucky 

• University of Michigan – Ann Arbor 

• University of Minnesota – Twin Cities 

• University of Nebraska – Omaha 

• University of North Dakota – Main Campus 

• University of North Texas – Denton 

• University of Notre Dame 

• University of Utah 

• University of Wisconsin – Madison 

• University of Wyoming 

• Washington University in St. Louis 

• Yale University 

OCR is in ongoing negotiations with the remaining 14 schools. 

Background 

Title VI prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in education programs and activities receiving federal funding.  

Fonte:https://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us-department-of-educations-office-civil-rights-secures-31-agreements-colleges-and-universities-end-partnerships-phd-project