DOJ Targets William & Mary in Latest Admissions Investigation

The Department of Justice is investigating William & Mary for possible race-based discrimination, officials announced Monday. It’s the latest in a series of government investigations regarding the consideration of race in college admissions, scholarships and other institutional programs.

Department officials are probing the public university in Williamsburg, Va., to determine whether it is violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by including racial criteria on multiple scholarships and other benefit programs. Under Title VI, colleges and universities receiving federal aid are prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color and national origin.

“Awarding scholarships or offering coveted opportunities to students based on the color of their skin is illegal and offends the guarantees of our color-blind Constitution,” Assistant Attorney General of Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon said in a news release about the investigation. “We will find out if scholarships or other student benefits at William & Mary favor applicants of certain races. The Department will not turn a blind eye to race-based preferences, however they are packaged or portrayed by universities.”

The university said in a statement that it is reviewing the DOJ letter and will comply with all state and federal laws, adding that it remains “committed to nondiscriminatory learning environments.”

According to the DOJ news release, the scholarships under examination include:

• The W&M Scholars program, which covers at least full in-state tuition for first-year undergraduate students and gives priority to students with “interest in diverse people and perspectives.”
• The Martha L. Muguira Fellowship, a form of need-based aid for graduate students in the School of Education, which gives preference to Hispanic or Latina women. 

• The doctoral-level Holmes Scholars program, which provides “future education leaders of color” with mentorship, access to job fairs and professional development opportunities.
• The Lemon Legal Scholars Program, a full-ride scholarship, mentorship and academic advising program within the law school designed for graduates of historically Black colleges and universities.
• The Reaching Back Scholarship, a need-based scholarship, also within the law school, that prioritizes HBCU graduates or those “who contribute to the diversity” of the law school.

The university has until Sept. 8 to submit all requested documents.