Carnegie Mellon targeted in federal DEI probe
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Carnegie Mellon University is one of 45 schools under investigation for "race-exclusionary practices" in their graduate programs, the U.S. Department of Education said Friday.
Why it matters: Pittsburgh's largest learning institutions are quietly navigating Trump-era guidance on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives as they contend with the administration's threats of steep National Institutes of Health funding cuts.
Driving the news: The department is investigating whether 45 colleges, including Carnegie Mellon, violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bars race-based discrimination in federally funded institutions.
- At the center of the probe is the school's partnership with The PhD Project, a small nonprofit that helps Black, Latino and Native American doctoral business students find career insights, networking and job opportunities. This year, the organization said it opened its membership application to anyone who shares its vision.
What they're saying: On Monday, Carnegie Mellon said the university "just received notice of the investigation" and is "carefully reviewing the matter to determine next steps and ensure compliance with the law."
Catch up quick: In February, the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights ordered higher education institutions to eliminate scholarships and programs that use race in the selection process or face federal funding cuts. Two of the nation's largest teacher unions have filed federal lawsuits challenging the order.
- Some University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon web pages referencing DEI started to disappear or change following the directive, PublicSource reported.
Case in point: CMU's "Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging" web page was renamed "Inclusive Excellence," and the "Office of the Vice Provost for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion" is now the "Office of the Vice Provost for Community, Culture and Engagement."
Yes, but: The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania and the Education Law Center said the guidance "does not have the force and effect of law and does not bind the public or create new legal standards."
- The ACLU argues that federal efforts to nix DEI programs and slash the Department of Education's workforce will make it harder to track racial disparities in education.
Zoom out: The latest federal investigation marks another effort by the Trump administration to challenge DEI initiatives, which have faced scrutiny since the president took office.
- Labeling DEI programs—intended to expand opportunities for students of color—as "race-exclusionary" aligns with efforts by some Trump allies to reinterpret Civil Rights-era laws, redirecting attention from historical discrimination against people of color to accusations of "anti-white racism," Axios' Alex Thompson has reported.
The big picture: The Trump administration targeting DEI practices comes after the Supreme Court in 2023 overturned affirmative action in college admissions, Axios' Ivana Saric reports.
- The Trump administration has also targeted the federal government's use of diversity and affirmative action practices.