The Justice Department on Monday opened an investigation into the College of William & Mary, examining whether some scholarships and student opportunities at the Virginia public research university use race-based eligibility or preference standards that could violate federal law. The move marks another front in the Trump administration’s broader scrutiny of colleges and universities nationwide.
In announcing the review, the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division said it will assess whether William & Mary is complying with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, a federal statute that bars discrimination based on race, color or national origin in any program or activity that receives federal funding.
“Awarding scholarships or offering coveted opportunities to students based on the color of their skin is illegal and offends the guarantees of our color-blind Constitution,” Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon said in a statement.
Dhillon added that investigators intend to determine whether William & Mary scholarships or other student benefits give an advantage to applicants from particular racial groups. “The Department will not turn a blind eye to race-based preferences, however they are packaged or portrayed by universities,” she said.
The Department of Justice has opened a probe into the College of William & Mary over whether select scholarships and student benefits involve unlawful race-based criteria. (Julia Rendleman for The Washington Post via Getty Images)
One program cited in the review is the “W&M Scholars” initiative for incoming undergraduate students, which provides a scholarship worth at least the full cost of in-state tuition and mandatory fees.
Although the award is not restricted to students of any specific race, the DOJ said in a notice letter to the university that applicants who show an “interest in diverse people and perspectives” are given “top consideration.” On William & Mary’s website, that factor appears alongside academic strength and potential, as well as first-generation college status or limited-income background.
The department also pointed to programs within the W&M School of Education. According to the DOJ, the need-based Martha L. Muguira Fellowship for graduate students gives “preference” to Hispanic or Latino women with financial need. The agency further described the doctoral-level Holmes Scholars program as offering “future education leaders of color” mentoring, job fair access, position announcements and national professional development opportunities, including policy and advocacy training and chances to present research. William & Mary’s current website describes Holmes Scholars as students “from traditionally under-represented backgrounds.”
The DOJ said the W&M Law School offers the Lemon Legal Scholars Program. The DOJ said W&M Law offers up to five full scholarships covering tuition and fees that appear to be exclusively for HBCU graduates. William & Mary’s current website, however, says the law school “will award at least five full scholarships” to HBCU graduates admitted to its J.D. program.
The DOJ’s Civil Rights Division announced it was opening a compliance review for the college’s potential violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
Recipients of this scholarship also receive networking opportunities, one-on-one academic advising regarding course load and bar exam preparation, as well as access to special events with W&M Law School faculty, senior administrators and alumni.
The law school also advertises the “Reaching Back Scholarship,” which is a need-based scholarship that has a “preference” for HBCU graduates or those “who contribute to the diversity” of W&M Law School, the DOJ said.
Some programs at the institution were established to deal with the legacy of slavery and racial discrimination at William & Mary.
The DOJ urged William & Mary to hand over certain documents and information by September 8 as part of the compliance review. The department said it wants to secure compliance by “informal voluntary means” but may take formal action such as proceedings that could result in the termination of federal financial assistance if it deems such a move necessary.
The probe adds to the Trump administration’s targeting of educational institutions across the country. (ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)
Responding to the federal probe, William & Mary said in a statement that it is “committed to nondiscriminatory learning environments across our campus and complying with all state and federal laws.”
The DOJ’s Civil Rights Division said it had not reached any conclusions about the subject matter of the investigation.
This is just the latest effort by the Trump administration to target educational institutions across the nation for issues such as race-based admissions and scholarships, diversity, equity and inclusion programs and alleged antisemitism on campus.
