Most universities that were investigated over partnerships with a nonprofit organization accused of violating civil rights law have agreed to cut those ties, the U.S. Department of Education stated, as the Trump administration continues its push to remove diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programming from higher education.
The department’s Office for Civil Rights announced in March 2025 that it would investigate 45 institutions over their partnerships with the PhD Project, a nonprofit that the government said offers academic support and networking opportunities to doctoral students but “limits eligibility based on the race of participants.”
