Towson University Under Federal Investigation

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Towson University is under fire after being named in a federal investigation for alleged racial discrimination. Towson is amongst 45 other universities that the Department of Education is accusing the schools of “engaging in race-exclusionary practices in their graduate programs.”

The investigation come just a month after the Trump administration ordered U.S. colleges and universities to end diversity programs or have their federal funding pulled. In the investigation, the Department of Education alleges that the schools have violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act (1964) by partnering with “The Ph.D. Project,” a nonprofit that helps students from underrepresented groups get degrees in business to diversify the business world.

Per the US Dept of Education,

OCR is also investigating six universities for allegedly awarding impermissible race-based scholarships and one university for allegedly administering a program that segregates students on the basis of race.

“The Department is working to reorient civil rights enforcement to ensure all students are protected from illegal discrimination. 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,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. “Students must be assessed according to merit and accomplishment, not prejudged by the color of their skin. We will not yield on this commitment.”