After initially reporting on a federal investigation into racially discriminatory practices at multiple universities, the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) clarified that the University of Alabama in its initial report was the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) currently being investigated.
Last week, 1819 News reported on the OCR release, stating that the University of Alabama (UA) was one of six colleges in the country under investigation for "alleged impermissible race-based scholarships and race-based segregation."
Days later, the OCR changed the initial release, correcting its previous statement and clarifying that UAB was under investigation.
UA's Associate Director of Communications informed 1819 News that UA "has not been contacted by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights about the investigation announced Friday and is no longer listed in the press release."
The OCR announced on Friday that it had opened investigations into 51 universities total under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national origin in programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance.
The investigations come amid allegations that 45 institutions violated Title VI by partnering with "The Ph.D. Project," an organization that purports to provide doctoral students with insights into obtaining a Ph.D. and networking opportunities, but OCR claims limits eligibility based on the race of participants.
The OCR also stated it was investigating six other colleges for "alleged impermissible race-based scholarships and race-based segregation." UAB falls into the latter category
"The Department is working to reorient civil rights enforcement to ensure all students are protected from illegal discrimination," said U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. The agency has already launched Title VI investigations into institutions where widespread antisemitic harassment has been reported and Title IX investigations into entities which allegedly continue to allow sex discrimination; today's announcement expands our efforts to ensure universities are not discriminating against their students based on race and race stereotypes. Students must be assessed according to merit and accomplishment, not prejudged by the color of their skin. We will not yield on this commitment."
The recent investigation comes as the Donald Trump administration has targeted the Department of Education for complete dismantlement. The agency announced Tuesday that it would cut nearly half of its workforce, in keeping with Trump's agenda to significantly downsize or abolish the department altogether.
A Trump executive order is rumored to drop in the coming days. According to the Wall Street Journal, the draft of Trump's executive order would instruct McMahon to "take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure" of the DOE while operating to "the maximum extent appropriate and permitted by law."
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