Reviewing Whether Racial Criteria Apply to Scholarships and Benefits… Suspected Violations of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
Five Major Programs Targeted, Including 'W&M Scholars'… University: “Complying with the Law, Preparing Written Submission”
The U.S. federal government has launched a full-scale investigation into the College of William & Mary, a prestigious public university in Virginia, over allegations of racial discrimination within its student scholarship and support programs.
On the 17th (local time), the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that it has initiated a compliance review investigation to determine whether major scholarship and benefit programs at William & Mary violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin.
The core of this investigation is whether the university provided unlawful preferential treatment to specific races or skin colors when awarding scholarships or offering educational opportunities.
Harmeet K. Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division, strongly criticized the practices in a statement, saying, “Awarding scholarships or coveted opportunities to students based on skin color is illegal and directly violates constitutional guarantees against racial discrimination.” She further emphasized, “No matter how universities package race-based preferential policies, the federal government will never turn a blind eye to them.”
Federal authorities are focusing their investigation on a total of five programs. First, the 'W&M Scholars' program, which provides full tuition support for incoming undergraduate freshmen, is under scrutiny. The DOJ is examining whether prioritizing students with an “interest in diverse people and perspectives” during the selection process operated as a mechanism to favor specific races.
Additionally, the 'Martha L. Muguira Fellowship' offered by the School of Education and the 'Holmes Scholars' program for doctoral students are also under investigation. The DOJ pointed out that these programs provided special benefits, such as mentoring and career opportunities, specifically to Hispanic/Latina women and “future educational leaders of color,” respectively.
The Law School's (J.D.) 'Lemon Legal Scholars' program is likewise being investigated over allegations that it gave priority for full scholarships and mentoring to graduates of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
This federal action is seen as part of a recent series of inquiries targeting higher education institutions in Virginia. In Virginia, the University of Virginia (UVA) and George Mason University (GMU) were investigated by federal authorities under similar allegations last year, making William & Mary the third case. This is interpreted as a sign of the federal government's intent to significantly tighten oversight of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies and the remnants of race-based affirmative action across universities nationwide.
In a statement on its official website, William & Mary noted, “We are reviewing the request received from the U.S. Department of Justice on August 17 and are gathering the necessary materials.” The university added, “We are fully committed to fostering a non-discriminatory learning environment across campus and complying with all state and federal laws,” while refraining from further comment on the ongoing legal matter.
The DOJ has requested the university to submit relevant documents by early September. Close attention is being paid to the case, as strong sanctions—including the termination of federal funding—could follow if violations are confirmed and the university fails to implement corrective measures.