Federal government investigating University of Minnesota for alleged racial bias against white and Asian students

The University of Minnesota is one of dozens of universities nationwide under federal investigation for alleged racial discrimination against white and Asian graduate students and in its scholarship programs.

The U is already one of five schools being investigated by the Trump administration for alleged antisemitism.

The U.S. Department of Education’s newest investigation comes following a memo last month that instructed institutions to “end the use of racial preferences and stereotypes” in admissions, scholarship programs and other educational programming, or risk losing federal money.

The investigation alleges that 45 institutions, including the U, have violated Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act by partnering with the PhD Project. That’s an organization that seeks to broaden workplace talent pipelines by helping diverse students obtain advanced business degrees.

The latest investigation also lists the U as one of seven schools being looked at for “alleged impermissible race-based scholarships.”

“Students must be assessed according to merit and accomplishment, not prejudged by the color of their skin. We will not yield on this commitment,” Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said in a news release.

In a statement, a U spokesperson said the school will fully cooperate with any investigation and remains committed to being an inclusive and discrimination-free environment for all.

“The University regularly revisits the selection criteria across thousands of grants, scholarships, and other awards to our students, as well as educational and community programs,” the spokesperson said. “When needed, the University has made and will make updates to ensure continued compliance with all applicable laws.”

Other schools under investigation include the University of Wisconsin at Madison, Arizona State University, the University of Michigan, Yale University, Duke University and Cornell University.