George Mason University Violated Civil Rights Law With Illegal DEI Practices: Education Department

An investigation determined that the university president’s diversity initiatives contradicted his 2020 pledge to expunge “racist vestiges” from the campus.

A stone and brick sign at the entrance to George Mason University's West Campus in Fairfax, Va., on Nov. 8, 2024. Shutterstock

The federal government has cited another higher learning institution for Civil Rights violations.

George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, illegally used race and “other immutable characteristics” in hiring and promoting employees, the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights announced on Aug. 22.

“In 2020, University President Gregory Washington called for expunging the so-called ‘racist vestiges’ from GMU’s campus. Without a hint of self-awareness, President Washington then waged a university-wide campaign to implement unlawful DEI policies that intentionally discriminate based on race. You can’t make this up,” Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor said in a statement.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices, which include race-based hiring and promotions, mandatory diversity training, and affinity programs by race or gender, are illegal under Title VI of the federal Civil Rights Act, which authorizes the federal government to withhold funds from institutions in violation of those laws.

The federal investigation, launched in July, was prompted by complaints from university professors who said administrators—for the past five years—had given preferential treatment to job candidates from underrepresented groups as part of a stated antiracism initiative.

University leaders even waived the selection committee evaluation process to fast-track minority candidates, and the office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, which was renamed “Office of Access, Compliance, and Community” earlier this year, had the final say on hiring decisions, the investigation found.

The university has 10 days to voluntarily resolve these violations, the Education Department said.

The department’s proposed resolution agreement said all ongoing and future recruiting, hiring, promotion, and tenure decisions should comply with Title VI. It also tells university leaders to disseminate information to the entire campus community on how to submit federal Civil Rights complaints.

In addition, Washington is asked to issue a personal apology to the university community “for promoting unlawful discriminatory practices,” the release said.

The Department of Education also wants university employees who were involved in discriminatory practices to complete annual refresher training that emphasizes that personnel decisions cannot be based on race or national origin.

“The Trump-McMahon Department of Education will not allow racially exclusionary practices—which violate the Civil Rights Act, the Equal Protection Clause, and Supreme Court precedent—to continue corrupting our nation’s educational institutions,” Trainor said.

George Mason University’s Board of Visitors issued an Aug. 22 statement acknowledging the Department of Education’s notice.

“This is a serious matter,” the statement said. “We will continue to respond fully and cooperatively to all inquiries from the Department of Education, the Department of Justice, and the U.S. House of Representatives and evaluate the evidence that comes to light. Our sole focus is our fiduciary duty to serve the best interests of the University and the people of the Commonwealth of Virginia.”

Nearby George Washington University, located in Washington, was issued an Aug. 22 deadline to enter a voluntary resolution with the federal government following the Department of Justice’s investigation of campus anti-Semitism.

Neither side has provided an update on that matter yet.