The withdrawals come in response to the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR), which claims the project violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
The OCR launched the investigations last year, arguing that the PhD Project “limits eligibility based on the race of participants.”
In a press release, U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon praises the move, referring to it as the “Trump effect.” The leader also claims that eradicating programs that are focused on marginalized communities helps to combat racial discrimination in education.
“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.”
Some educators strongly criticized this move, arguing that it could potentially silence marginalized voices in academia.
“Any time the University of Michigan collaborates with the Trump administration is a day of shame,” Silke-Maria Weineck, University of Michigan Grace Lee Boggs Collegiate Professor of Comparative Literature and German Studies, told CBS News.
Story by Jameelah Mullen | BLACK ENTERPRISE – 3/6/2026
Colleges required to exclude race in admissions
Colleges are required to submit data that shows they are excluding race in the admissions process.
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