Trump Administration’s Crackdown on Diversity Programs Alters University Partnerships
The Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle diversity initiatives in higher education have led to significant changes in university affiliations with The PhD Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing racial minority representation in academia through doctorate degrees.
The PhD Project, which remained relatively obscure until it was scrutinized by conservative strategists, became the focal point of a U.S. Department of Education investigation. The Republican-led administration argues that many school diversity programs, like those associated with The PhD Project, inadvertently exclude white and Asian American students.
Since the investigation commenced in March 2025, 31 universities have severed their partnerships with The PhD Project, as confirmed by the department’s Office for Civil Rights. Discussions with 14 additional institutions are ongoing.
The Department of Education asserts that The PhD Project’s criteria unlawfully limit participation based on race, violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits racial discrimination in federally funded educational programs. “This is the Trump effect in action: institutions of higher education are agreeing to cut ties with discriminatory organizations, recommitting themselves to abiding by federal law, and restoring equality of opportunity on campuses across the nation,” said Education Secretary Linda McMahon.
In response to potential federal funding losses due to “race-based preferences,” many universities quickly distanced themselves from The PhD Project following the investigation’s announcement.
The PhD Project, which aims to increase the number of role models in business education, has reportedly aided over 1,500 individuals in earning their doctoral degrees. “The PhD Project was founded with the goal of providing more role models in the front of business classrooms and this remains our goal today,” the organization reaffirmed in a statement.
Prominent institutions including Arizona State, Ohio State, the University of Michigan, Yale, Duke, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) were among those that ended their associations with The PhD Project. MIT, for instance, previously paid a small fee to participate in the organization’s events, but ceased this involvement after the investigation began, according to spokesperson Kimberly Allen. Although MIT reached a “resolution agreement” with the department, it did not admit to any wrongdoing or legal violations.
The University of North Dakota, aiming to tap into The PhD Project’s applicant database for faculty recruitment, similarly ended its membership shortly after the investigation was launched, spokesperson David Dodds conveyed.
The University of Utah, which participated in The PhD Project’s conferences until the 2024-25 academic year, also ended its relationship with the nonprofit as part of a settlement with the department, noted university spokesperson Rebecca Walsh. Of the 170 PhD admissions to Utah’s business school over 14 years, only two students were affiliated with The PhD Project.
Additionally, all 31 universities involved have committed to auditing their partnerships with other organizations to ensure compliance with Title VI, focusing on eliminating race-based participation restrictions.
The administration’s broader initiative targets various practices under the banner of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
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