LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — The U.S. Department of Education on Friday named UNLV among 45 universities across the country under investigation for potential civil rights violations.
According to a news release sent to Channel 13 on Friday, the Department of Education alleges these universities have violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act by partnering with an organization called The PhD Project.
The Department of Education claims the PhD Project limits eligibility for its resources based on the race of participants. According to its website, the organization (founded in 1994) "encourages and supports historically underrepresented candidates on their journey to acquiring a PhD."
In a statement to Channel 13, UNLV confirmed three former professors were participants in the PhD Project mentoring program.
"Two of them are no longer with UNLV," a spokesperson stated. "The third person was Patricia Navarro Velez, a beloved professor who was tragically killed on our campus by a gunman on Dec. 6, 2023."
The Department of Education says these investigations come after it sent a letter to federally funded education institutions. The letter states in part, "Although some programs may appear neutral on their face, a closer look reveals that they are, in fact, motivated by racial considerations. And race-based decision-making, no matter the form, remains impermissible."
Institutions found in violation of Title VI could lose federal funds, the Department noted.
UNLV states it is "committed to an will provide equality of educational and employment opportunity for all persons regardless of race, sex, age, color, national origin, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender, genetic information, pregnancy, or veteran status."
The full list of universities under investigation includes:
- Arizona State University – Main Campus
- Boise State University
- Cal Poly Humboldt
- California State University – San Bernadino
- Carnegie Mellon University
- Clemson University
- Cornell University
- Duke University
- Emory University
- George Mason University
- Georgetown University
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
- Montana State University-Bozeman
- New York University (NYU)
- Rice University
- Rutgers University
- The Ohio State University – Main Campus
- Towson University
- Tulane University
- University of Arkansas – Fayetteville
- University of California-Berkeley
- University of Chicago
- University of Cincinnati – Main Campus
- University of Colorado – Colorado Springs
- University of Delaware
- University of Kansas
- University of Kentucky
- University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
- University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
- University of Nebraska at Omaha
- University of New Mexico – Main Campus
- University of North Dakota – Main Campus
- University of North Texas – Denton
- University of Notre Dame
- University of NV – Las Vegas
- University of Oregon
- University of Rhode Island
- University of Utah
- University of Washington-Seattle
- University of Wisconsin-Madison
- University of Wyoming
- Vanderbilt University
- Washington State University
- Washington University in St. Louis
- Yale University
