Trump administration investigating UNLV over diversity efforts

UNLV is the only Nevada institution under investigation, but several universities in neighboring states were also included in the probe.

Nevada’s largest public university is under investigation by the Trump administration for its efforts to bolster diversity among Ph.D students, the US Department of Education announced Friday.

The department announced it had opened investigations into 45 universities — including the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) — on grounds they allegedly violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act by partnering with The Ph.D. Project, which according to the group’s website, was founded in 1994 to help Black, Latino, and Native American students pursue doctoral business degrees with the intent of those graduates eventually becoming university faculty. 

In a press release, the Department of Education alleged that The Ph.D. Project discriminated against white students by limiting the eligibility of their programs based on the race of participants. 

Representatives with UNLV did not respond to a request for comment. 

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“The Department is working to reorient civil rights enforcement to ensure all students are protected from illegal discrimination,” Education Secretary Linda McMahon, a former executive of World Wrestling Entertainment, said in a statement. “Students must be assessed according to merit and accomplishment, not prejudiced by the color of their skin. We will not yield on this commitment.” 

Responding to the allegations, a spokesperson for The Ph.D. Project told The Nevadan it had recently opened its membership application to anyone who shares its core values.

“For the last 30 years, The Ph.D. Project has worked to expand the pool of workplace talent by developing business school faculty who inspire, mentor, and support tomorrow’s leaders,” the statement read. “Our vision is to create a broader talent pipeline of current and future business leaders who are committed to excellence and to each other, through networking, mentorship, and unique events. This year, we have opened our membership application to anyone who shares that vision. The Ph.D. Project was founded with the goal of providing more role models in the front of business classrooms, which remains our goal today.” 

UNLV is the only Nevada institution under investigation, but several universities in neighboring states were also included in the probe. Those include Arizona State University, Cal Poly Humboldt, California State University — San Bernardino, Montana State University — Bozeman, University of California — Berkeley, the University of Oregon, the University of Utah, the University of Wyoming, Washington State University, and others. 

The announcement comes amid the Trump administration’s attacks on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) practices in educational and business institutions across the country. Approximately 70% of UNLV’s 32,911 students belonged to racial minorities, according to its website. The school has been recognized by US World and Report for being one of the most diverse campuses in the nation. 

Since its founding, The Ph.D. Project says it has helped more than 1,500 members earn a doctoral degree, including more than 240 students currently in the program. The group claims it is the only program in the US focused on increasing diversity in business school.