The Justice Department launched enquiries on Wednesday into potential discrimination at the medical schools of Stanford University, Ohio State University and the University of California, San Diego. Harmeet Dhillon, the Justice Department's assistant attorney general for civil rights, disclosed the investigations on X.
The Trump administration has begun probes into how race is factored into admissions at three medical institutions, increasing its pressure on colleges and universities.
In a letter to Ohio State, Dhillon said the Justice Department was seeking documents related to “the use or lack of use of race” in assessing applicants. She said it was also seeking applicant-level admissions data and any school evaluations of admissions trends or outcomes by race, the Indian Express reported.
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Admissions Data
A five-page document outlines the records the government is seeking. It includes data on standardised test scores, details collected or inferred on race and ethnicity, and admissions decisions for each applicant, dating back to the incoming class of 2019.
School Responses
According to the Indian Express, Ohio State spokesperson Benjamin Johnson said the university complies with state and federal laws and court rulings on admissions. “We've received the attached letter and will respond appropriately,” he said.
UC San Diego said it was assessing the notice from the Justice Department. “UC San Diego is committed to fair processes in all of our programmes and activities, including admissions, consistent with federal and state anti-discrimination laws,” the university said in a written statement, the Indian Express reported.
Stanford School of Medicine spokesperson Cecilia Arradaza said it was reviewing the correspondence. “Stanford School of Medicine prohibits unlawful discrimination based on race, colour, national or ethnic origin, or any other characteristics safeguarded by applicable law,” Arradaza said in a written statement, the Indian Express reported.
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