(The Center Square) – The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights launched investigations Tuesday into five medical schools nationwide to determine whether their admissions practices violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color or national origin.
The department announced it's investigating these institutions: Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth in Hanover, N.H.; Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University in Greenville, N.C; Saint Louis University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Mo.; Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, Calif.; and William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Hattiesburg, Miss.
The OCR alleges that the schools may have engaged in racial discrimination in their admissions processes and will examine whether their policies comply with federal civil rights law.
The investigations follow actions by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights and the U.S. Department of Justice targeting educational institutions after President Donald Trump issued an executive order directing agencies to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion ideology to “ensure transparency in admissions for institutions of higher education and end discriminatory race-based admissions processes,” the administration stated.
On Tuesday, the DOJ announced that the University of California San Diego Medical School has been denying admission to white and Asian applicants in favor of lower-credential Black and Hispanic applicants, The Center Square reported Tuesday.
“Your race should not decide whether or not you can study medicine, yet many schools seem to be more focused on meeting racial quotas than selecting individuals who have earned entrance based on merit,” Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Richey said in a statement. “Schools that engage in such admissions policies are not only violating the law, but they are also undermining the fundamental principles of fairness and meritocracy that define our nation.”
As of publication, none of the five medical schools had issued a public statement responding to the Department of Education’s announcement.
The Center Square reached out to the U.S. Department of Education for comment but did not receive a response.
"Esther is an education reporter for The Center Square. Please email her at ewickham@thecentersquare.com for tips or questions."
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