The U.S. Justice Department has launched an investigation into the College of William & Mary over whether certain scholarships and financial aid programmes at the Williamsburg, Virginia institution are discriminatory, according to documents reviewed by Bloomberg. The probe covers multiple schools within the university, including the Law School and the School of Education.
Justice Department opens civil rights probe into William & Mary scholarships
The U.S. Justice Department has launched an investigation into the College of William & Mary over whether certain scholarships and financial aid programmes at the Williamsburg, Virginia institution are discriminatory, according to documents reviewed by Bloomberg. The probe covers multiple schools within the university, including the Law School and the School of Education.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon said the department opened the investigation after auditing the college's financial aid programmes, and that William & Mary's scholarship policies appeared to defy the Supreme Court's 2023 decision banning racial preferences in admissions. Among the scholarships under scrutiny are those that give 'preference' or 'top consideration' to 'diverse people and perspectives,' as well as scholarships specifically established to address the legacy of slavery and racial discrimination at William & Mary, which was founded in the 1690s.
William & Mary said in a statement that it is 'committed to equitable learning environments across our campus and complying with all state and federal laws,' and that it does not comment on pending legal matters. The scholarships in question are not limited to applicants of a specific race, according to the source.
If the department finds a violation of civil rights law, it would first seek a voluntary settlement. Without one, consequences could include terminating students' eligibility for federal financial aid, Dhillon said.
The probe is part of a broader Justice Department effort targeting higher education. Earlier in August, a DOJ investigation found that Duke University School of Law had discriminated against applicants based on race; in May, it announced a similar finding against the Yale School of Medicine. In June, the agency launched a probe into Harvard University, alleging it granted financial aid preferences to Chinese students due to the influence of foreign donors. William & Mary is at least the third Virginia college to face DOJ scrutiny since President Donald Trump returned to office; investigations into the University of Virginia led to the resignation of then-president Jim Ryan and a subsequent settlement, and George Mason University was found to have violated civil rights law in its hiring practices.
- The source does not state the specific dollar amounts or number of scholarships under investigation at William & Mary.
- The source does not identify which scholarships are restricted to graduates of historically Black colleges and universities, beyond general characterization.
- The source does not state whether William & Mary has retained legal counsel or indicated any intent to contest the investigation.
- The source does not state the total number of students or programmes that could be affected if federal financial aid eligibility were terminated.
- The source does not specify the terms of the earlier settlement between the DOJ and the University of Virginia.
- The source does not name the university presidents Dhillon said have approached her to resolve potential conflicts privately.
Read the original at The Straits Times